Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will answer this question on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. Budget 2019 allocated an additional €55 million for the development of mental health services, and I acknowledge Deputy Browne's commitment to this area also. The additional funding allocated to mental health services since 2012 has provided for the recruitment of more than 1,500 posts in mental health since 2012. In the last year alone, the number of psychiatrists increased by 14.

There are 340 consultant psychiatrists in the mental health services and 83 vacancies. The HSE uses locums, short-term contracts and other arrangements to fill many of these posts to support service delivery. In addition, we have developed our capacity in primary care through the funding of 114 assistant psychologists, a new grade whose positive impact I have seen first hand, 20 psychologists and ten advanced nurse practitioners. This will help to manage the demand and improve access to psychiatry services.

A focus of funding for 2019 will be on early intervention and support services that will assist as many service users as possible in dealing with mental health challenges before they require acute or psychiatric care. The Government remains committed to increasing the consultant workforce and there is a significant need for psychiatrists. It is generally acknowledged, however, that there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining certain grades of staff, particularly specialist child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, staff and consultant psychiatrists. This is an issue not just in Ireland but internationally.

The HSE undertakes continuing recruitment of consultant psychiatrists. Campaigns have targeted international events involving prospective candidates. In its report published on 4 September, the PSPC identified difficulties in attracting consultant applications for many posts and acknowledged that the pay rates for new entrants had been highlighted as a factor in this. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published proposals regarding mitigation of the extended salary scales for new entrants across the public service under section 4 of the PSSA. Two separate interventions will take place at the fourth and eighth points of pay scales, involving the bypassing of two scale points. This measure will apply from 1 March 2019 and will be applied to eligible new entrants as they reach the relevant scale points on their current increment date. Those between the fourth and eighth points will also benefit from the first intervention on the date of their next normal increment.

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