Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Some 20% to 25% of overall ill health is caused by mental health problems but less than 7% of the health budget is going on mental health. The Government has played with figures. It played with figures last year in terms of mental health and has done the same in this budget, as opposed to properly allocating the funding to bring us up to the percentage levels that apply in other European countries. The latest figures this morning still do not make sense. There is an answer in the Dáil record in July from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, stating that just to meet the staffing gap in order to meet A Vision for Change requirements would cost an extra €128 million in a year. If we accept the €35 million figure, that would still require an increase for the next budget of €90 million, and that applies without dealing with any of the capital costs. To actually implement A Vision for Change, if the Government is not going to do it next year and will instead do it in 2019, it would need to allocate an additional €150 million next year. I do not see the Government doing that, although it should. The Government should spell out how the figures match up. If it is going to meet the staffing gap that has been outlined and identified by the Government, and allocate the capital necessary, how is it going to happen?

See this speech in context