Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Photo of Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the current position in relation to the ring fencing of €35 million for mental health in his Department in December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45951/12]

Photo of Patrick NultyPatrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if the €5 million allocated in the Health Service Executive's 2012 National Service Plan for mental health in primary care and access to psychotherapy services will be spent for this purpose in 2012; when the ten posts for mental health in primary care and access to psychotherapy services will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46298/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 670 together.

Funding from the €35 million special allocation for mental health will be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both Adult and Children’s mental health services. Some of the funding will also be used to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems. 414 posts were approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures for mental health. While none of these staff are in place yet, 378 of the posts are with the National Recruitment Service of the HSE at various stages in the recruitment process, 231 job offers have already been accepted and the appointments are proceeding, 109 offers have been put to candidates to express an interest, 28 posts are being filled either through transfer or are being amalgamated with other posts and the 10 posts for the psychological and counselling services in primary care were advertised recently for a national panel. Interviews for the latter posts are scheduled for November 2012 and appointments are likely to start in early 2013. Most of the other start dates are expected to begin in December this year and costs will start to be incurred from that point.

This Government remains committed to engaging these professionals as soon as is feasible and the work of completing the process remains a priority. However, the provisional outturn for mental health services to mid-year was, like many other areas, running ahead of budget and the end of year excess in this area will be met from the unexpended portion of the €35 million.

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