Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be here for my fourth budget as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people. I am pleased to announce that more than €2.6 billion has been allocated to further enhance older persons' services in budget 2024, which is an increase of €158 million on the amount announced on budget day last year. This includes more than €45 million additional funding for long-term residential care in nursing homes, public, private and voluntary. This funding will support nursing homes to maintain services and to manage inflationary increases through the nursing home support scheme, also known as fair deal. I am also pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated new €10 million fund to support private and voluntary nursing homes with HIQA regulations and compliance measures. The details are currently being worked on by officials in the Department.

The delivery of home care continues to increase each year. In 2024, we expect to deliver 22 million hours of home support. This is more than has ever been delivered before. An additional €2.8 million is allocated to meet inflationary pressures. Some 18% of all new home support hours are now ring-fenced for people with dementia. I am delighted to announce €300,000 in new funding for weekend activity clubs for people with early-onset dementia. This is being done in conjunction with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and makes use of facilities that are normally closed at weekends. The latter makes perfect sense and will be a valuable resource for young people with early-onset dementia and their families. We know that community services play a vital role in helping to keep older people well, out of hospital and living in their homes and communities for longer. We will be investing an additional €3.7 million in 2024 for day services, in-home dementia day care and meals on wheels across the country.

In the programme for Government, we committed to establishing a commission to examine care and supports for older people. Some €1.2 million has been allocated in budget 2024 to support this work. We will also increase the provision of transitional care funding by €4.6 million in 2024.

Budget 2024 brings annual funding to mental health services to nearly €1.3 billion. This year’s budget focuses on further developing youth mental health. Specific funding has been provided for the recruitment of 68 posts associated with CAMHS. The extra staff for CAMHS will support the implementation of the recommendations of key reports and audits seen in this country over the last two years.

An exciting new initiative for which I am delighted to have secured funding is a youth mental health app. We know young people sometimes approach services differently,. They can be more likely to engage with digital or online supports and information. This app will help direct young people to the services they need, when they need them. Budget 2024 also provides funding for the development and provision of a new central referral mechanism for services for children, to be established on a pilot basis within the HSE. This referral mechanism will allow the HSE to appropriately triage referrals to specialist services, including CAMHS, to ensure no child ends up on the wrong waiting list for the care they need and deserve. This model, which is sometimes referred to as "no wrong door", is a key priority for me.

I am also pleased to confirm the continued roll out of suicide bereavement liaison officers in 2024, as well as specific funding next year for the further national roll out of the Traveller counselling service. This will ensure that culturally inclusive and appropriate counselling services will have national coverage for the first time. Funding has also been secured for minor capital works to develop more appropriate accommodation in services nationwide and meet the needs identified in the Mental Health Commission inspection reports.

In short, the investment that has been secured this year will further support the delivery of our priorities under Sharing the Vision, Connecting for Life and Sláintecare. The focus on youth mental health is timely and much needed. I thank all those who work in mental health services and with older people. I am very proud of the fact that we have the highest life expectancy among the 27 EU countries. I want to thank all people who work with older people to make sure they can live appropriately at home, in nursing homes or in whichever setting. It is also important to remember all those who care-----

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