Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will help ensure that the promise to invest €35 million annually in community mental health is honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54269/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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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. Provision is also being made to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with A Vision for Change.

414 posts were approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures. To date 17 posts have been filled and over 270 offers of employment have already been accepted and the appointments are proceeding. Most start dates are expected to commence in December 2012. Mental health is a priority for this Government and we remain committed to engaging these professionals as soon as is feasible. With regard to the level of funding for mental health next year, this is being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2013 which is currently underway.