Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

640. To ask the Minister for Health when he will allocate the €12 million ring-fenced funding for mental health services, given that it is not being spent, as the additional staff it was to fund will not be hired on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9392/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The last Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive. 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 €35m ring-fenced for mental health in 2012.

The €35m allocation for mental health will fund new service developments. The HSE National Service Plan 2016 identifies priorities for allocation of the €35 million, including the continued development of counselling services across both primary and secondary care including the provision of three new Jigsaw mental health services in Cork, Dublin city centre and Limerick; the continued development of Community Mental Health teams; improved 24/7 response and Liaison Services; Psychiatry of Later Life; Perinatal Mental Health, and two new mental health clinical programmes, specifically ADHD in Adults and Children, and Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse. The Department of Health is currently examining proposals from the HSE relating to the development of these specific enhanced priority services, as well as proposals for the ongoing development of a range of existing and new specialist mental health services. It is expected that a decision on the release of the funding will be made shortly.

Staff recruitment is a key element of these developments. As staff recruitment takes time, however, the Service Plan provides that time-related savings of approximately €12m from this and it will 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 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.