Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. As he will be aware, I have prioritised the clinical programmes since I came into this role. I am now heading into my fourth budget. The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years and 2023 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.2 billion. Budget 2023 delivered almost €58 million in additional funding and a further €10 million in once-off funding for much-needed minor capital works across the mental health system. This additional funding includes support for national clinical programmes. Since I took up the post of Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I have secured just under 800 additional posts for mental health services and recruitment continues. I work closely with mental health colleagues in the HSE, including regular meetings with the national clinical adviser and group leads to oversee the development and expansion of the national clinical programmes and models of care in line with Sharing the Vision. Just after the recess, in July, I met all the leads of the clinical programmes to discuss priorities for next year. I am very pleased that in the past few weeks I have been able to work with the HSE to launch new models of care for both dual diagnosis and five new child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, hubs. I welcome the continued work being done throughout the mental health services to ensure that modern, patient-centred care is developed and rolled out.

Specifically, to answer the Deputy's question, around 10,500 whole-time equivalent posts have been approved for HSE mental health services, of which 4,924 are nursing posts. In 2021, the HSE approved the release of 302 previously held programme for Government posts. This occurred alongside planned recruitment of an additional 154 posts under new development and 322 posts under new development 2022. This provided for an additional 780 staff across services. Significant progress continued in quarter 1 of this year, with the recruitment of 423 staff. I will come back with the rest of the answer later.

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