Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to update the House on a very positive budget for mental health and older people. The total allocation for mental health services for 2025 is just under €1.5 billion, which represents an increase for the fifth year in a row. I have secured additional funding of €127.5 million in order that our services can grow and meet demand, and €16 million for new developments on which I will now give more detail.

I have allocated an additional €2.1 million for 45 whole-time equivalents to open the remaining 18 beds in the new Central Mental Hospital, Portrane. Some €2.5 million will support CAMHS to increase core staffing, reduce waiting lists and develop a new CAMHS emergency liaison service. An extra CAMHS hub team will provide crisis cover for services. I have also secured the most substantial investment to date in our national clinical programmes of €5.7 million for an additional four adult ADHD teams, two eating disorder teams, two early intervention teams in psychosis and two dual-diagnosis teams, that is, for 96 whole-time equivalents.

The additional four ADHD teams will complete the nationwide roll-out for ADHD in adults. There will be approximately €1 million for measures on suicide prevention and Traveller mental health, including expanded counselling and bereavement support. I am also pleased to announce a €2 million initiative to increase access to counselling in primary care with a specific focus on providing counselling support for men.

Regarding older people, budget 2025 will bring our investment in services close to €3 billion next year. This is an increase of €349 million, the largest allocation ever for older people. I have secured over €120 million for home support hours to help people stay in their own homes for longer. In 2025 we expect to deliver 24 million hours to almost 60,000 people.

For the fair deal and the nursing home sector, I have secured an additional €72 million to meet next year's demand and help nursing homes with rising costs. A total of 615 additional community beds will be delivered in community nursing units and community hospitals throughout the country.

Dementia continues to be a priority for me. Some €17 million has been invested in new dementia services and supports since 2021 and we will provide a further €2 million to improve access to dementia diagnosis and care. There will be five new dementia advisers, bringing the total to 34, and increased funding for dementia day care at home. The share of home-care hours to be ring-fenced for people with dementia has increased again this year to 20%.

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