Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the effect that recent cuts to ring fenced funds in the mental health budget will have on commitments made in relation to the provision of mental health services this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40974/12]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the €35 million allocated in 2012 for the development of community mental health services; the number of posts filled; the number of posts remaining to be filled; if this sum is still ring-fenced for this purpose; if he will give a guarantee that it will not be used for other purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40987/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 64 together.

As my colleague with responsibility for Mental Health Services, Minister Kathleen Lynch has stated previously, no additional cut has been imposed on mental health. Of the 414 posts approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures for mental health introduced in Budget 2012, 353 are with the National Recruitment Service of the HSE at various stages in the recruitment process, 321 have been put to candidates to express an interest and others are awaiting competitions or the completion of essential paperwork. Most start dates are expected to be in December to allow for the process of checking references, Garda clearance etc.

Since the publication of the HSE 2012 Service Plan the HSE has subsequently decided to convert 31 of the posts originally intended for community mental health teams in the Dublin Mid-Leinster region to nursing posts in acute in-patient mental health services in the same region. This was approved in the context of introducing a nursing floor for the acute in-patient and community services in that region consistent with the provision of safe in-patient services in line with A Vision for Change, the Mental Health Commission Quality Framework for Mental Health Services in Ireland and the roll out of the clinical care programmes.

This Government remains committed to engaging these professionals as soon as is feasible and the work of completing the process remains a priority. These posts will not generate a full year cost in 2012. However, overall expenditure in mental health for 2012 is not available yet but the provisional outturn to mid-year was, like many other areas, running ahead of budget. It is not possible at this stage to say what the net end year position will be in mental health.