Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Smith has raised an important question. That is why the Government made clear this morning that the extra allocation to the Estimate for the Department of Health and the HSE will restore in full the ring-fenced moneys for mental health services. The details of how they are to be located and spent will be outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, over the course of the discussions on the Estimates next week and the week after.

It is fair to say that there are some serious recruitment issues in respect of the problem to which the Deputy referred. The Minister and Department are examining that question. I can stand here and say that because of the increased strength in the economy, an adjustment will be made to deal with what was set out in the programme in terms of the allocation for the mental health area.

I spoke to people the other day with regard to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I find there is always a complication between psychologists and psychiatrists working for the HSE and Tusla when children might need services and things are to be contracted again. The legal costs arising in areas surrounding children are always significant.

Suicide and self-harm are very traumatic and sensitive issues that exist not just in any particular location in the country, but across every area. The clinical programme for the assessment and management of self-harm in emergency departments provides a skilled response to people presenting with self-harm issues or suicidal ideation, as it is called, in emergency departments through a network of self-harm psychiatric nurses. Some 24 of the 35 additional nurses available have been recruited to this programme and trained for the role, and are doing a very important job, as the Deputy is aware.

The HSE is committed to further developing early intervention and prevention services. I hope the extra allocation being made to the health area and the restoration of funding for the mental health area will benefit these persons greatly. The details will be outlined by Ministers over the next week or so.

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