John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, wishes to reiterates that improving all aspects of policies and services for promoting positive mental health is a priority under the HSE service plan for 2019. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister of State has met him in the past regarding this issue. In addition, within the past few days, the Minister of State's office has been in touch about arranging another meeting with the Deputy in the near future. If the Deputy needs to bring all relevant local representatives to that meeting, that would be fine. This meeting would review mental health services in Meath. As the Minister of State asked me to tell the Deputy that this meeting will take place as quickly as possible, perhaps the Deputy could contact the Minister of State's office. The Minister of State continually liaises with the HSE to monitor all aspects of mental healthcare, including implementing new initiatives agreed under the executive's service plan. The recent budget provided an extra €55 million to progress new developments in mental health, which adds up to exceptional funding in 2019 at just over €1 billion. The construction of the national forensic mental health complex in Portrane is progressing with the facility due to open in 2020. All aspects of CAMHS nationally are being improved by the HSE to reduce waiting lists, although I know there are difficulties. The Deputy's points are well made and well taken. I met the Minister of State yesterday to discuss them and he told me that he would be glad to meet the Deputy and representatives, that is, whoever represents the mental health community in that area. That meeting will take place as soon as possible.

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