Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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773. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health posts due under the Budget 2015 allocation of €35 million that had been advertised as at the end of quarter 1, 2015; the number that have been advertised as at the end of quarter 2, 2015 [21899/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Following discussions between the Department of Health and the HSE around the allocation of the €35 million provided for mental health in 2015 which concluded last week, I have agreed and approved the priority areas to be further enhanced and developed this year. The HSE is now progressing more detailed proposals and processes with local services, including the number of posts that may be recruited. It should be noted however, that not all the funding for 2015 will be used for posts. Priorities will also include a number of non-pay initiatives including the funding of external providers, including enhanced access to local counselling services.

In the meantime, recruitment of the 2014 posts is continuing. Of the 251 posts allocated, 52 have been hired of which 31 have started by 31^stMarch 2015, and a further 70.5 are at various stages of the recruitment process.