Written answers

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Department of Health

Mental Health Services Staff

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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43. To ask the Minister for Health the way, in the absence of additional funding for mental health in the budget, A Vision for Change can be implemented when secondary mental health services, adult mental health services and child and adolescent mental health services have only three quarters of the recommended staff in adult services and less than half in children's services, while primary care mental health services are grossly under resourced and even non-existent in many areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30693/16]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As of August 2016, there were 9, 458 whole time equivalents employed in the HSE Mental Health services. This included an approximate additional 1,150 new posts recruited since 2012. A total of approximately 1,550 were approved but not all posts could be filled due to staff recruitment and retention challenges. However, recruitment to posts approved up to the current year is continuing, and this will continue to narrow the gap between existing staffing levels and the 10,650 WTE posts recommended under A Vision for Change.

The new posts filled in recent years have been directed towards increasing the staffing of adult and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service teams (CAMHS) in every Community Healthcare Organisation area. There are currently 114 adult teams and 67 CAMHS teams, including 3 Paediatric Liaison teams supported by 66 operational CAMHS beds across the country. New posts have also been allocated towards improved forensic services and for several specialist areas including, Eating Disorders and Psychiatry of Old Age. In addition, funding was set aside in the 2016 National Service Plan to develop early intervention services at Primary Care level, in conjunction with the Mental Health Services, along with significantly increased funding for expansion of Jigsaw services in 5 new locations.

I am committed to continuing to fund our mental health services. I am initiating €35 million in new services in 2017. Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan include youth mental health, further improvement to child & adolescent and adult services, older people's services and further enhanced out of hours response for those in need of urgent services. Recognising the time lag in new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction of these services, it is estimated that the revenue spend in 2017 associated with this increased allocation will be some €15 million. There will also be a further additional spend in mental health associated with increased pay rates.

In addition, I have secured additional capital funding of approximately €50 million for 2017, to commence the construction of the long-planned new National Forensic Mental Health Campus at Portrane. Despite a significant increase in costs for this project since it was originally initiated in 2000, due mainly to price inflation in the construction sector, I have obtained Government support to proceed with the award of tender. When completed, this project will significantly modernise our forensic services.

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