Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Health the status of reported reductions to the mental health budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8169/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Mental health funding for 2016 was set out in the 2016 HSE Service Plan. The plan was subsequently published and made available to all interested parties.

Funding for mental health services will increase this year, no matter what developments take place during the year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 NSP, an increase of €41m or 5.2%, which includes the €35m ring fenced for mental health.

The last Government increased the ring-fenced mental health funding by a total of €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive. The €12 million in 2016 is being transferred temporarily to social care, including home care packages for older people and step-down beds.

€35m additional funding has been ring fenced for mental health as part of an additional €97m that has been earmarked for new developments in the HSE's 2016 Service Plan. €58.5m of that is held by the Department of Health, comprising the €35m for mental health services, €13.5m for primary care, €8m for therapy services for young people and €2m for the nursing taskforce pilot implementation.

Some of these proposals for the €35m allocation for mental health involve the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments. As staff recruitment takes time, the Service Plan provides that time related savings of approximately €12m from this, as well as other funding from primary care, therapy services for young people and nursing task force pilot implementation would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds, and for vaccine procurement. As the initiatives planned for mental health and these other areas identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan.

In line with the provisions of the Service Plan which was agreed and published last December, additional funding for specific initiatives in mental health will be allocated as specific implementation plans are agreed. The Department of Health is examining detailed proposals from the HSE for the redevelopment monies.