Joan Freeman (Independent)
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My Commencement matter is for the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is taking this Commencement matter. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is otherwise engaged.

Joan Freeman (Independent)
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It is a pity I did not know that because the purpose of my address this morning is to give out but not to the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to whom I have never spoken previously.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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That is fine. The Senator's contribution will tell me where she is coming from.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I am sure it will not be taken personally. The Senator should not worry.

Joan Freeman (Independent)
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It is déjà vu- I have been here before and asked the same questions. I find it a little bit upsetting that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is not here because all the requests I have made to meet her have been completely ignored. She promised to set up a meeting but she has not done any of it.

I will tell the Minister of State in a nutshell what the problem is. I launched a project called Project 95 to address the fact that 95 children were placed into adult psychiatric units in 2015. The traumatic effect it has on children is astounding. One can imagine how upsetting it is for a child to be placed in an ordinary ward for physical health but imagine what it must be like in an adult psychiatric ward. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is well aware of this. We have spoken at length about it on many occasions. It is no good to just highlight the issue. The media have highlighted it every single year. I have come up with a solution yet the Minister of State continues to ignore it. The solution is to have a collaborative working relationship between the public and private sectors. The private sector has beds available. It has psychiatric intensive care units, PICUs, for children who are in terrible distress and they are available at weekends. The public sector does not have anything. All it would take is a series of conversations between the public and private sector. It would reduce overnight the number of those 95 children who have to be placed into adult psychiatric units and it would also reduce the 2,500 children who are waiting to be seen and assessed by the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. They cannot be seen and assisted by CAMHS mainly because those services do not have the personnel to do it because they are overwhelmed with the numbers. The private sector could jump in on a short-term basis and provide assessments. Most of those children do not need CAMHS; they need to be redirected to somewhere like Pieta House or Barnardos or one of those other organisations.The Minister of State still refuses to consider the issue. What is tragic is she and her Department are completely ignoring the fact there are children on that waiting list with life-threatening issues. They are either starving to death because they are anorexic or they have strong suicidal ideation. For example, there were three young people who killed themselves just before Christmas in Cork. It has been suggested that if there was an out-of-hours service, they would still be alive today. Can the Minister of State imagine not only the Christmas those families experienced but what the year ahead will be like for them?

There is another issue I want to address with the Minister of State. I wonder how much of this will get to her ears and if she will address us. I know the Minister of State in the Chamber today is listening but will the Minister of State with responsibility for this issue listen? I publicly asked about allocation of funding the last time she was in the Chamber. How was the money spent? There is €35 million every year meant to be given to A Vision for Change so how was that spent last year? More importantly, during the budget the Government indicated there is another €35 million for A Vision for Change but very quietly it was let out that it would come over two years. There is €15 million for this year. As I stated to the Minister of State at the time, that will act as a stop-gap or contingency fund for the inadequacies of the budget but it will not go for any direct support or services. Where and how will the €15 million be allocated?

Last year I had to publicly go with the 95 Project and ask the public to be aware of the chronic and disgraceful treatment of the children of this nation. I was recently advised that I am not angry enough or my tone is not angry enough.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I have given the Senator over a minute extra.

Joan Freeman (Independent)
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It is not in my personality to be angry or aggressive but I will leave it to the public. I will go on the airwaves if the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, does not answer those questions as soon as possible.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator and apologise to her for the absence of the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. I have been asked to take this matter and I am happy to do so. From 2012 to 2016, approximately €115 million was added to the Health Service Executive, HSE, mental health budget, which totalled €826 million in 2016. This represents an increase of €41 million, or 5.2%, over 2015. The programme for a partnership Government gives a clear commitment to increasing our mental health budget annually, as resources allow, to expand existing services. Budget 2017 made allowance for an additional €35 million for services to be initiated in 2017. Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 service plan include: youth mental health; further improvement to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and adult services; older people’s services; and further enhanced out-of-hours response for those in need of urgent services. Recognising the time lag in new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction of these services, it is estimated that the revenue spend in 2017 associated with this increased allocation will be approximately €15 million. There will also be an additional spend of €9.5 million in mental health associated with increased pay rates. Details of the 2017 development money spending will be finalised with the HSE in the near future in the context of the 2017 HSE mental health division’s operational plan for 2017.

For 2016, an additional €35 million in programme for Government funding was allocated to mental health. This funding was spent on national mental health priorities as agreed between the Department of Health and the HSE, and as signalled in the HSE's 2016 national service plan. Funding was issued in three parts. The first part, totalling approximately €22 million, was issued in June 2016 and used to fund such areas as homeless mental health, service user engagement, the Jigsaw programme, additional counselling and psychology services, and eating disorder posts.

The second part, totalling €12 million, was issued in August 2016 and used to fund minor works and capital works, both of which addressed difficulties identified by Mental Health Commission inspectors, as well as an increase in psychiatric nurse undergraduate training places. The final €1 million was allocated in December 2016 and helped fund replacement vehicles for residential mental health units and mental health work by organisations such as Bodywhys, Áras Folláin, ADD Ireland and Focus Ireland. In cases where the HSE was unable to spend the full amount allocated to a certain area in 2016, it was reallocated to other mental health areas following sanction from the Department of Health. For example, €5 million issued for mental health in primary care was used to expand the range of small and minor capital works.

Mental health priorities for 2016 were agreed between the Department of Health and the HSE. These were published in the HSE's 2016 national service plan and in more detail in the HSE mental health division's 2016 operational plan. The breakdown of all mental health funding is available in the HSE mental health division’s operational plan, which is published annually. The 2016 spend on these areas will be included in the forthcoming 2017 operational plan.

Joan Freeman (Independent)
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I do not mean to shoot the messenger but I must say that my eyes glazed as the Minister of State was speaking. I know she is reading the answer given to her by the other Minister of State. I have heard it all before. It is sad that I have come to realise that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, has gone to the same school of language that this Government and the HSE have gone to. They have learned beautifully and effectively to fudge, placate and talk in circles. Every time I ask a question I hear that nonsense, and it is nonsense. I am asking three very simple questions. I left my house this morning at 7.30 a.m. to be in here on time and to be prepared. I expected to meet the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. As usual, I have seen the kicking of the can down the street and fudging of the real issues.

I want an answer to those three questions. What will the Minister of State do to prevent another 100 children entering adult psychiatric units this year? What will she do about facilitating a meeting between the public and private sector to erase all this? How was the money spent last year and how does the Minister of State intend to spend the €15 million this year? I want that said to her as soon as possible.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. The matter has the heading of transparency in mental health budget allocations and whether the Minister of State will agree to disclose where resources have been allocated since October 2016. The response in many ways outlines the avenues where the funding was spent. I assure the Senator that with any business I take here on behalf of a Minister or Minister of State, I personally speak to them about the questions raised. It would be wrong to think I do not do so as I convey those issues on a personal level. When I take a Topical Issues matter in the Dáil I always speak to the relevant Minister or Ministers.

I agree with the Senator on a fundamental matter. I welcome the extra funding for CAMHS as, like any other public representative, I hear from many parents with difficulty getting into CAMHS and children's access to services. I have come across a few disturbing cases and I welcome that there is money for that. The Senator mentioned her 95 Project and although I have no knowledge of it, I will enlighten myself about it afterwards. What she said is very true and honest and I will not argue with the Senator. It is unacceptable that children and particularly young adults are housed in an adult ward when they have serious mental issues, including eating disorders. I will bring the Senator's very clear messages to the Minister of State on a personal basis. I will relay to her the Senator's disappointment in the Minister of State not being here and, above all, the fact that the Senator has requested a meeting but it has not come about. I will bring those serious concerns to her.

Joan Freeman (Independent)
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I believe the Minister of State and I thank her for that. Could she also relay my frustration and anger?