Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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91. To ask the Minister for Health if he will restore urgently ring-fenced funding for mental health services in 2016; and if he will return to the model of funding that has been in place since 2012, where funding is specifically ring-fenced in the mental health area. [13738/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 2016.

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 early intervention and counselling services across both primary and secondary care; 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; services for Psychiatry of Later Life; Perinatal Mental Health, and two new mental health clinical programmes, specifically for ADHD in Adults and Children, and for 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 2016 development funding will be made shortly.

Staff recruitment is a key element of these developments. As staff recruitment takes time, however, the 2016 HSE National Service Plan envisages that time-related savings of approximately €12m from the mental health development funding 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 identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan requirement.