Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I forgot earlier to convey the apologies of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who was unable to take this matter. I will take the Deputy’s relevant points on these services back to him. We have many similar issues in the disability sector. I agree we need to pin down and focus on specific timelines, as well as particular deadlines. The service providers must be held to account on these issues. The Deputy raised the broader societal point about the stigma of mental illness. I commend the work of the No Wrong Door service in addressing this issue. We all have a role to play in this.

Budget 2018 allocated an additional €35 million to develop mental health services in 2018. The Minister for Health has committed an additional €55 million funding for 2019, delivering an overall €105 million for the implementation of A Vision for Change over the three-year period between 2017 and 2019. In 2012, mental health services spend was €711 million. In 2018, it will be €910 million. The budget increase will facilitate more staffing in child and adolescent, adult and later life psychiatry services. A seven-day a week response will be enhanced to move towards provision of 24-7 mental health services. In addition, further resources will be provided through programmes for eating disorders, dual diagnosis, homeless people, perinatal mental health, prisoner outreach services, intellectual disability services and service-user participation. The work is being done and the investments are being made. The plan is there in A Vision for Change. We must ensure, however, all the service providers have specific deadlines and they are accountable to Members of the Oireachtas. That is the strong message which I will bring back to the Minister of State.

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