Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and acknowledge that he consistently raises mental health in this House. Mental health continues to be a priority area for the Government. In budget 2020, the Government maintained its commitment to mental health by increasing funding by €39 million to €1.026 billion. This increase includes €13 million for new developments and €26 million for pay, which will help to ensure that existing initiatives are maintained and enhanced. Since 2012, the HSE mental health budget has increased by approximately 44% from €711 million to well over €1 billion next year. Budget 2019 made allowance for an additional €55 million for mental health services to build on the existing services.

It comprised €20 million for the continuing cost in 2019 of developments initiated in 2018, combined with €35 million for further new developments. The investment has enabled the HSE mental health service to progress initiatives agreed in the national service plan 2019, such as e-mental health pilot programmes, and clinical programmes in areas such as eating disorders and ADHD continue to be developed and implemented. The relocation of the national forensic mental health service to Portrane is another significant investment undertaken by HSE mental health services.

To date, €33 million of the funding has been drawn down and an application for a further €10 million is being processed. The management of the remaining €12 million funding for 2019 will be agreed with the HSE in the coming weeks. This money will also be available for new developments in 2020, for which a total of €25 million will be available. The extra funding has delivered the recruitment of 114 assistant psychologists and 20 psychologists in primary care since 2018, as well as ten advanced nurse practitioners in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, who are currently in training.

It is important to state that CAMHS waiting lists, which were and are a priority for the Government, have been reduced by 20% this year. The August figure was 2,038, reduced from 2,517 in December 2018. I understand that the Deputy wants the Government to continue to prioritise mental health services through financial provision, increased staffing and better services, particularly in the community. That is happening and it will continue to be a priority.

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