Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. This year saw the largest budget allocation to mental health in the State's history at €1.149 billion. The year 2022 will see an additional €47 million for mental health services, comprising the €24 million the Deputy mentioned for new developments, €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid and €13 million for existing level of service. The €24 million is being prioritised for the continued development of mental health services, including out-of-hours supports, child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and mental health clinical programmes. I have clear priorities as the Minister of State with special responsibility for mental health. These include dealing with the primary care psychology waiting list. I am also very clear about trying to reduce the number of young people waiting for access to CAMHS appointments. I am very clear in relation to the continued roll-out of the clinical programmes, which have proven very successful to date.

The moneys I have secured, coupled with clearing the €53 million historical deficit I inherited last year, means I will be able to recruit 350 whole-time equivalent staff. Mental health services for older people will also be developed, in line with the model of care for specialist mental health services for older people that will be piloted next year. A sum €6 million will be used to continue to enhance the capacity of community mental health teams. It is very important we have these teams on the ground. There will be €1.4 million in new funding for crisis resolution services. I recently announced a new crisis resolution team for community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5, which will be based in Waterford, Dungarvan and south County Kilkenny. There will be 14 whole-time equivalent staff there. As such, there is €1.4 million because we are going to roll out those pilots, and another €1.15 million will be allocated to specialist eating disorder teams in CHOs 1, 3, 5 and 6. I am really happy that by the end of next year we will have nine full eating disorder teams in place. I will answer more in the next session.

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