Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is more than €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health. It will underpin implementation of the Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life strategies. It delivers almost €72.8 million in additional funding for next year, comprising €14 million for new developments, €43.8 million for existing services, a further €10 million in once-off funding for minor capital works and a further €5 million for once-off funding supports. The budget will support my continued focus on youth mental health. Following discussions with the HSE and Mr. Paul Reid to progress mental health priorities, as is in the programme for Government, I am pleased to say that we have agreed a new post. It is for a youth mental health lead at assistant national director grade within the HSE. Funding for this post is included in this year's budget and recruitment will commence as soon as possible. We will continue to progress the full implementation of the Maskey report on child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in conjunction with the current review which the Mental Health Commission is undertaking and the HSE audits of CAMHS.

Some €750,000 has been allocated to commence a new initiative by funding counselling psychology training places in 2023. There is funding for the new community access support team, which is a partnership approach between HSE mid-west mental health services and An Garda Síochána. Additional funding for the Traveller health plan and implementation of the mental health actions of the plan has been secured.

I am pleased to announce that I have secured an additional €180 million of funding for services for older people for winter 2022 and into 2023. Long-term residential care will be supported through €47 million of additional funding for the nursing homes support scheme to maintain services and manage inflationary increases. Today, I am delighted to announce that the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes will be extended to the end of the year and refocused on addressing this year's inflationary pressures related to energy and heating. Details are being finalised and these will be communicated in the coming days.

We will allocate €5.2 million to roll out the healthy age friendly homes initiative. This will enable older people to avoid early admission to residential care by remaining in their own homes or right-sizing.

See this speech in context