Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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518. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the allocation of the full €35 million committed in the programme for Government for investment in community mental health services, along with the €15 million balance of the underspend in budget 2014, to a total of €50 million investment in these essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27253/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. Towards this end, funding of €70 million and 890 posts have been provided to develop our community mental health services in 2012 and 2013.

In Budget 2014, the Government again re-committed to the continued development of our mental health services in these extremely challenging times, where the options for additional expenditure generally are very constrained. €20 million has been ringfenced for the further development of our mental health services in 2014. This means that, despite serious resource pressures overall, funding of €90m has been made available since 2012 up to end of 2014, which has been specifically ear-marked for mental health and suicide prevention.

This funding will enable the HSE to continue to develop and modernise our mental health services in line with the recommendations ofA Vision for Change and will allow for the recruitment of between 250 and 280 additional staff to further enhance our:

- Adult Community Mental Health Teams;

- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams and

- Specialist Mental Health Teams.

These posts are targeted to be in place by Quarter 4 of 2014.

I can confirm to the Deputy that I have been assured that the remaining €15 million which was due in 2014 for mental health will be restored in 2015. I will also be advocating for an allocation of €35 million in 2015 for mental health.