Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In response to the request that the Government should have made up the €15 million it held back in 2014, my position is that in the circumstances and given the logistical and phasing issues arising from recruitment and properly planned service reconfiguration, it was considered more efficient to restore the annual programme for Government allocation to 2012 and 2013 levels. Coupled with unspent 2014 moneys, this represents a considerable commitment to an increase.

Regarding counselling in primary care, CIPC, because we did not know what the demand or uptake would be or how successful it would be, a waiting list built up. That is why the €35 million in this year's service plan will be directed very clearly towards the primary care setting. I will get the Deputy an entire list of what we have done and what is available in mental health and primary care. There are constant complaints about what we do not have, whereas we have a considerable amount done.

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