Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. On the €10 million that has to be spent by the end of the year, I have another meeting at 2 p.m. today. Local organisations were not contacted. We will be using Mental Health Ireland to allocate the money. When €10 million is allocated on budget day and has to be spent before the end of the year, an awful lot of work has to be done. However, community organisations will get the opportunity to apply through Mental Health Ireland, and we are working out the details. There is a guarantee that the €10 million will be spent before Christmas. The other €10 million, announced by the Taoiseach earlier in the year, will be allocated in the new year. Let me refer to one of the areas we are prioritising. Working with Jigsaw, we are going to provide supports for second and third level students. Considerable work is being done. I can guarantee the Deputy that when I am given money for mental health, I will certainly spend it.

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