Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. She is right that early intervention is critical in all aspects of life, whether we are discussing education or mental health. The report rightly stated there is no quick fix. We need to think about having a national body. Let us consider the impact the Road Safety Authority has had in saving lives on the road. We need to consider it in a wider sense than at an individual or community basis. Mr. Rogan, the director of mental health services, says that when we have the resources we get good outcomes, but if we deny resources we get late interventions. The Minister of State has already cited the importance of early interventions.

I wish to ask the Minister of State two direct questions. The 2012 budget allocated €35 million for community mental health. Was that money spent in 2012? Have the staff, who were due to be employed in 2012, got their contracts and are they in the positions for which they were intended? Can we have a cast-iron guarantee that the €35 million, which is supposed to be ring-fenced for mental health, will not be syphoned off by any other area in the HSE and that it will be directed to where it should be directed? When we have the resources, we get good outcomes.

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