Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health when he will release the €23 million (details supplied) development funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 National Service Plan, an increase of €41m or 5.2% which includes the €35m ring-fenced for mental health.

Staff recruitment is a key element of both existing and new developments. As staff recruitment takes time, however, the 2016 Service Plan provided that time-related savings of approximately €12m from the €35m would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds and for vaccine procurement.

In 2016, it is proposed to advance the following development priorities from the additional funding: 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.

In addition to new developments, the HSE is committed to the ongoing development of adult and child & adolescent services. Up to 1,150 posts have already been filled up to end 2015 from the developmental funding provided since 2012, with 270 posts approved for the Child & Adolescent Services.

The Department of Health is currently examining proposals from the HSE relating to the development of these priority services, as well as proposals for the ongoing development of a range of existing and new specialist mental health services. Clarifications are being sought from the HSE on certain details and it is expected that a decision on the release of the funding will be made shortly.