Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This question arises out of an exchange between the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, with Dr. Sara Burke at a recent press conference at which time the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, when asked about the mental health budget said that because it had not been decided yet and there were dynamic figures, they needed to work it out. He also said that they were within the range. The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, commented to the effect that the commitment to mental health is for €35 million every year for the lifetime of the Government. Can we take it as a given that €35 million is being provided under budget 2016? The Minister of State might when responding to that question comment on the position on the 2014 shortfall of €15 million. It is debatable whether €35 million was provided in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Let us start afresh. The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, has given a commitment today that €35 million will be provided in 2016. Is the €15 million not provided in 2014 incorporated in the €35 million for this year?

See this speech in context