Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Health if it is the case that there are no mental health therapy services available to those in County Clare who do not have a new diagnosis; the action he is taking to ensure that adequate services exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14711/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform and resourcing of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. Additional funding totalling €125 million has been provided primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, and forensic mental health services.

Alongside secondary services, there are many excellent counselling services currently provided across the country by the both the HSE and voluntary sector. Counselling is provided across the health service including primary care, social care and within mental health. This type of service can be provided by a range of trained health professionals and delivered to meet a clinical need at either primary or secondary care level. The Government, in keeping with its commitment in the Programme for Government to increase access to counselling and psychotherapy, has provided funding totalling €7.5 million to develop the Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) service, which works closely with the HSE Mental Health Service, under whose aegis this funding is provided.

I wish to confirm that there are mental health therapy services available for people in Co. Clare, and they are not confined only to those with a new diagnosis. I understand that the Deputy may be referring to the availability of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) services, which are designed to help reduce self harm and self destructive behaviours, using a combination of group skills training, individual therapy and phone coaching. Unfortunately there is no DBT service available as yet in Co Clare or in the Mid West, however consideration is being given to the training of staff in this regard.