Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will certainly take that up with the Minister for Health directly. The intention was always to have €35 million ring-fenced. I think that the previous Government was the first after many years of talking about it to attempt to ring-fence money for mental health. As the Deputy is only too well aware, over the years the entire mental health area was always the Cinderella of any health budget and only tokenism was afforded it. It is a much more serious issue now. I will discuss it with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State dealing with this matter, Deputy McEntee. It is only right and proper that, if there is a commitment for €35 million, the expenditure strategy should be outlined in order that people will know what it is committed to and how it is being spent.

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