Dáil debates

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Mental Health Services Funding: Motion [Private Members]

 

8:45 pm

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Implementing A Vision for Change is a key priority for Fianna Fáil. The Government has said it is committed to meeting the recommendations but in order to do that, the funding, or lack thereof, needs to be addressed as a priority. There is currently under-investment in the mental health service and significant work is needed to bring it to a higher standard. It is not going to be achieved without adequate funding. Government is planning to increase mental health funding by 1.6% next year compared to a 7.4% funding increase across the wider health sector. It is a clear indication that mental health services simply are not the priority they should be. Mental health services should not be left as the poor relation. On budget day the Minister for Health announced €35 million for mental health services in 2017. The July 2016 Estimate for the Department of Health outlined that the required resources to implement fully A Vision for Change is €177.3 million or €35 million for each of five years. In the days after the budget the Minister of State outlined that just €15 million of the €35 million allocation would be spent next year. Fianna Fáil is calling for a provision that there would be adequate resource and it would be spent on mental health services. Any moneys that are not spent within that financial year could be carried over into the following year for the benefit of mental health services and for the benefit of communities around the country.

I acknowledge the invaluable work that community based organisations such as Tosnu in Ballincollig and Cunamh in Macroom do by providing key services locally and allowing treatment for people within their own community. It is an invaluable alternative to acute, inpatient treatment.

Service organisations such as Cunamh and Tosnu as well as many others throughout the country are providing lifelines to many families and individuals. They should be supported.

Everyone recognises that there are no quick fixes, but there is a strategy in place, A Vision for Change. To facilitate that strategy, there needs to be long-term planning in mental health services. It is vital that the Government moves away from allocating mental health funds on a year-by-year basis. Instead, the Government should introduce funding measures to ensure mental health services are developed further. There should be a multi-annual investment policy, a long-term investment strategy to ensure that issues will be addressed.

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