Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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24. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the increase in mental health problems reported in the most recent census; the impact of the level of mental health funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48284/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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According to census 2016, the number of people with psychological or emotional conditions increased from 96,004 in 2011 to 123,515 in 2016. The Government has taken action to address this and the consequent increase in demand for services. Over the period in question, there has been a substantial parallel increase in awareness of mental well-being in society and a reduction in the stigma associated with mental health issues.

In budget 2018, the Government provided almost €60 million in additional mental health funding, including €35 million for the development of new services. This means the mental health budget has been increased by approximately €200 million since 2012. A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a clear commitment to increasing our mental health budget annually, as resources allow, in order to expand existing services.

This new investment has facilitated the approval of around 1,500 new posts and a subsequent increase in mental health staffing numbers. At the end of September 2017, there were 9,744 whole-time equivalents employed in the mental health division as opposed to 9,404 in December 2015. The investment in question has also enabled the HSE to provide for an additional 130 undergraduate psychiatric nurses and 40 postgraduate psychiatric nurses each year. In addition, the funding increase has made possible the introduction of 114 assistant psychology posts and 20 psychologist posts in primary care. These will enhance early intervention-primary care counselling services for those under 18 in particular and relieve pressures on specialist child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. This new investment has also led to an increase in activity. For example, the number of children attending CAMHS in 2016 was 12,386 while the expected number for 2017 is 14,365.

While the substantial funding increase has helped to fund vital mental health services, it is important to ensure these services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible. With this in mind, a number of policy initiatives are being progressed. These include the development of a refreshed policy for mental health and the development of an implementation plan for the Connecting for Life suicide reduction strategy. As well as these, I will be bringing the final recommendations of the national task force on youth mental health to Government in the coming weeks. This initiative will help to develop resilience and coping mechanisms among children and young people. The fourth policy initiative is the pathfinder project on youth mental health. It will address the challenges of implementing youth mental health actions on a cross-departmental and whole-of-Government basis.

When taken together, these policy initiatives illustrate the Government's integrated response to the growing demands on the mental health sector.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Census 2016 tells us there was a 122% increase in mental health conditions for females aged between 13 and 22 in 2016 compared with 2011. The equivalent figure for males was 82%. This is quite clearly connected with the economic and social system and capitalism, which have given rise to precarious work, housing insecurity, increased education costs and so on. The increase in the problem is not being matched by an increase in resources. There is less money going into it than was the case ten years ago. There are fewer staff employed by the State in this area than was the case ten years ago and the percentage of the health budget going to mental health services is less than it was at that time. The latter is a failure by any standards and I challenge the Minister of State to defend that position.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis or with how he looks at everything being less ten years on. The €200 million increase in the mental health budget is very substantial and I challenge the Deputy to point to any other area the Government is in charge of that experienced an equivalent pro rataincrease during the recession the State has endured.

On the more substantive issue of mental health, it is a very narrow definition. I know the Deputy likes to engage in these narrow, focused analytics. The issue of mental health is not just a function of the Department of Health, it also comes within the ambit of the Departments of Education and Skills, Justice and Equality, and Children and Youth Affairs. Mental health is being addressed across a range of Departments and money is being spent. Comparing the percentage of the mental health budget with the overall health budget is wrong.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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How we deal with mental health is really important. Is the Minister of State aware of the report that has emerged in Cork in the past two days of a 14-year-old boy with Asperger's and anxiety who wrote to Cork County Council explaining that he was stressed out because of his family's situation of being on the housing waiting list? Shortly afterwards, his mother received correspondence from Tusla wanting to talk to the family about this letter and the situation in the household. Tusla looked into the matter. The case is now closed because, having interviewed the mother and young fellow, Tusla says there is no case. The social worker has written to the council to say the family should be housed, putting the authority of Tusla behind that. We can leave aside the fact that if anything is to be investigated here, it is the Government's housing policy. I want assurances there will be no repeat of such a situation, whether in Cork County Council or any other council.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I will not comment on a case regarding Cork County Council. If the Deputy has an issue with how Cork County Council dealt with a particular case that has come to his attention, I respectfully suggest he take the matter up directly with Cork County Council, which, I am quite sure, will be more than happy to provide any clarification required on the matter.