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

I thank Deputy Harty for raising this important issue and I commend his own work in respect of the health issues, particularly in his own native county but in the national debate as well. It is essential that we acknowledge the work that many of our colleagues do. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is aware that west Clare has faced difficulties in locating a consultant locum to provide cover for a consultant who began maternity leave on 14 May this year. I accept that point. The good news, though, is that the HSE is confident that a locum consultant will be in place on 9 July. It has informed the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, that as an interim measure, the executive clinical director has run two clinics in early June in Kilrush and Ennis and a registrar has continued to provide outpatient reviews. Until the placement of the locum consultant, the executive clinical director will continue to attend a number of clinics.

The clinical director is also in regular contact with the staff in Kilrush, providing support as required. The west Clare inpatients in Ennis are being supervised by two other consultants, which will continue until the arrival of the locum. In respect of the broader mental health services and supports, I am glad to say that the local action plan, Connecting for Life Mid-West, was launched in April 2017. This local implementation action plan is based on the same vision, goals, objectives and measurable outcomes as outlined in the national strategy, Connecting for Life, Ireland's National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. Together with identifying the local statutory and non-statutory mental health services and supports in the area, it sets out specific local actions based on the feedback received from a public engagement process in May 2016 and the best available evidence relating to suicidal behaviour.

On a national note, I would like to reiterate that the strengthening of the mental health services is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and for the Government. The mental health budget has risen from €711 million in 2012 to €912 million in 2018. That is an increase of more than €200 million, or approximately 28%, in six years. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, has already secured agreement from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that the budget will increase by a further €55 million in 2019. Other positive activity to note in this area includes increased staffing levels, the introduction of new posts, improved seven-days-a-week response and liaison services, as well as continued work on clinical programmes. In April, 10,008 staff were employed in mental health services. Staffing levels in mental health services show an increase of approximately 193 when compared with the April 2017 figure. In excess of 2,000 new posts have been approved since 2012 up to the end of 2017, of which some 1,352 have been recruited or are in the recruitment process.

The level of vacancies, the difficulty in recruiting skilled staff and the substantial increase in demand pose a significant challenge. The provision of 136 new primary care psychologists, including 22 basic grade psychologists and 114 assistant psychologists, will, however, help to reduce pressure on these services.

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We will also provide funding to increase psychiatric nurse undergraduate places by 130 per year by 2021-2022. In the context of an improved seven-days-a-week response and liaison services, the HSE is now in the final stages of recruiting staff required to deliver the 7-7 mental health service cover for the areas that do not currently have such a service in place.

In summary, the Irish mental health service faces challenges, including increasing demand for these services and the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. I am confident, however, that the steps we have taken will ensure that we meet these challenges.

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