Written answers
Tuesday, 17 May 2016
Department of Health
Mental Health Services Expenditure
Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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834. To ask the Minister for Health the allocation for the development of, and the amount spent on the mental health services in each of the years since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10288/16]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The previous Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding totalling €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive.
The Budget for Mental Health Services for the years 2011 to 2016 is as follows:
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSP Budget | €712 m | €711 m | €737 m | €766 m | €791.8 m | €826.6 m* |
| NSP Outturn | __ | __ | €709 m | €735.8 m | €785.4 m | __ |
* includes 2016 €35m provision
The National Service Plan Budget totals include the additional funding provided each year as follows: 2012 (€35m), 2013 (€35m), 2014 (€20m), 2015 (€35m) and 2016 (€35m).
The last Government provided additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million over 2012 - 16 inclusive. On a year-by-year basis, however, the HSE mental health budget has also been subject to restrictions which have applied to health expenditure generally, including downward adjustments for public service pay reductions and procurement savings similar to other HSE service areas. In addition, unspent development funds due to recruitment restrictions in 2013 and 2014 were either returned to the Exchequer or used to meet unavoidable costs in other areas. In total, taking account of the various movements, an additional €115 million increase in the Mental Health budget is identified in the HSE Service Plans between 2012 and 2016 inclusive. This is a very significant increase having regard to the constraints on general health spending over the period.
With the establishment of the Mental Health Division within the HSE in mid-2013, the Executive commenced a process of improving reporting budgets and costs on a Care Group basis similar to other HSE service areas. In previous years, finances were reported by Integrated Service Area to support the integrated model of service delivery. Therefore, in regard to the allocation for the period prior to 2012, I have referred the detailed issues raised in the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in order to see what further material can be provided through direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
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