Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

According to the response I got on 20 July, national clinical programmes did not receive any funding for new posts to expand clinical programme services in 2023. We are approaching budget time and the Opposition Members have to turn into forensic accountants to try to go through what is being said and what is actually being delivered on the ground. Last year, the Minister of State tweeted that there was €72.8 million in additional funding for mental health. The budget book added up to €57 million - I think the Minister of State mentioned €58 million. When I eventually made my way through all the smoke and mirror tactics, it was revealed that there was only €14 million in additional money for new developments in vital mental health services. It was only in the middle of this year that we found out there was no funding in 2023 for the national clinical programmes. I want to know whether the money committed to national clinical programmes in budget 2024 will be additional to new funding not provided this year. Will the Government eventually commit to multi-annual funding for national clinical programmes?

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