Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am deputising for Senator Feighan, who cannot be here as I believe he is still on paternity duty. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish her continued success in a role she has really grasped from the outset.

As we all know, mental health issues can affect any home in the country. The area is a challenge for any government and society to deal with and manage in order to improve awareness and treatments. I commend the Minister of State on her extremely proactive approach to her brief so far. It is welcome that the programme for Government states that the mental health budget will be increased annually during the lifetime of the Government and that the Government is committed to meeting the recommendations of A Vision for Change. I appreciate the Minister of State's comments on a review of that document.

The allocation for the mental health budget for 2017 was subject to many untruths and a lack of understanding online. People often get confused when discussing the annual mental health budget. Many of us were inundated with questions to our offices asking why the entire mental health budget was just €15 million or if it had been cut. We need to be clear and unequivocal that the mental health budget for 2017 will be €851.3 million. Noting that funding of €150 million was secured in this year's budget for the new facility in Portrane, as the Minister of State discussed, I ask her to update us in her reply on the status of the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, which is close to where I live. When will that institution be able to move to Portrane? Like the Minister of State, I have also visited that facility and I believe it is no longer fit for purpose.

I fully appreciate that funding alone will not solve our problems. Much of the money cannot be spent without the staff to carry out the work. I also welcome that in this regard, training nursing places will increase by 45% in the next four years. In addition we need to see what approaches in different sectors are best performing.

The importance of team sports and club activities cannot be underestimated in providing a solution to cultivating a healthier approach to mental health. I am heartened to see our leading national sports organisations recognise the ability they have to influence the mental health of their members. They have taken action by launching several campaigns, aimed at not only increasing awareness, but also taking practical steps to improve their players' health and welfare.

The GAA on a national level has partnered with the HSE to support the highly shared and viewed "#LittleThings" social media campaign. Like other organisations, the GAA has seen fit to appoint a full-time community and health manager. The Kilmacud Crokes club in Stillorgan is involved in phase 2 of the award-winning healthy clubs project. It has launched its own "Crokes talks" videos. These brilliant pieces highlight how health and well-being have been integrated into the club's philosophy. It reminds everyone that they can contribute to a positive club experience for all members.

Another club in south County Dublin, Cuala, framed its emotional well-being conversation around a topic that is very real and immediate to every athlete - achieving one's potential and how an injury, be it mental or physical, can hamper one's endeavours to do just that. Its short film "#StoptheStigma" has had more than 10,000 views on YouTube. Both these clubs have drilled this health-awareness-driven practical campaign to the heart of their members and there may be an on-field benefit as these two clubs reached the final of the Dublin county senior hurling championship.

No one could argue that a healthy, happy, supportive and positive team spirit leads to success. Nationally the IRFU has rolled out its campaign, called "Tackle your Feelings." The purpose of that programme is to work towards creating a society where emotional vulnerability is viewed as strength and where being honest with oneself about how one is feeling is brave. It seeks to provide players with the tools to develop their self-awareness, improve their positivity and confidence, and become resilient. My club has signed up to Senator Freeman's "Mind your Buddies" campaign through Pieta House. It has worked really well in this laddish macho environment to have people who are trained available to talk to those who need it.

I thank the Minister of State for her contribution and look forward to her reply. I wish her the best of luck with the rest of her work.