Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the whole area of mental health needs ongoing investment which we need to prioritise. I hope the health committee will prioritise a discussion of the full implementation of A Vision for Change, which also needs a review. The report that Deputy Adams referenced, the Mental Health Commission annual report of 2015, reflects the very widely accepted need to develop further a complete community-based mental health service with a prevention and recovery focus. I am sure there is no one in this House who does not agree with what the Deputy says about the need for priority focus and ongoing improvement and investment in the whole mental health area. Thankfully, we have seen changes and we have seen the move from residential to community care but unfortunately the economic situation impacted on the development and implementation of A Vision for Change. What we have to do now, given that we have the resources available, is make sure we accelerate funding in this area. That is what the Government has done. We are committed to providing additional resources in this area. If one looks at the recent Government decision to allocate an extra €500 million to the health area, that involved an increase in mental health funding from €785 million in 2015 to a projected budget of €826 million in 2016, which represents an increase of €41 million or 5.2%. That funding is very important.

The recruitment of front-line staff has been difficult but needs to continue and vacancies are being advertised as I speak. Hopefully that will begin to build up the complement of posts that are necessary. Up to 1,150 posts have been filled up to the end of 2015, with 270 posts approved for the child and adolescent services, which also need development and staff.

A number of priority development areas have already been identified that will be ongoing this year. They include the improved counselling services and the provision of three new Jigsaw centres, which are extremely important to young people in local communities. I am sure Deputy Adams will agree that the provision of those extra centres will be important, particularly for the more vulnerable children in areas across the country.

Deputy Adams made a point about children who were admitted to adult psychiatric units. Indeed, it is shameful that we continue to have such a situation, even though it has significantly changed, from more than 200 children being admitted to adult inpatient psychiatric units down to 95 last year. Every one of those is one too many and we must accelerate our efforts. There is increased funding and it will begin to deal with the issues I have identified in a more comprehensive way. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is determined to have a strong priority focus on the mental health issues that Deputy Adams has identified and that we all know need continuing attention.

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