Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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80. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the allocation of €5 million in funding to recruit up to 100 psychologists and councillors to develop psychological services for persons under 18 years of age will be spent; and the timeframe for the delivery of these services. [13739/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Service Plan 2016 envisages the development of early intervention and counselling for young people, similar to the service provided for adults, and that this will be developed collaboratively by the Primary Care and Mental Health services. This initiative will be funded from the €5 million of the held back Development funds provided in this years National Service Plan for Mental Health. The Department of Health will shortly conclude discussions with the HSE on how this initiative should be progressed over the remainder of this year and beyond, as part of the approval of development funding set aside for mental health in 2016.

In regard to the recruitment of specific posts for this initiative as this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.