Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the development funding announced in budget 2017 to implement the national mental health policy, A Vision For Change; the money available to the HSE in 2017 for this purpose; if he will increase this funding in order to allow for much needed improvements in mental health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33921/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The allocation for Mental Health in 2017 will be €851.3 million, an increase of €24.7 million, or approximately 3%, over 2016. In addition, a further €50 million will be provided for the construction of the new national forensic mental health service in Portrane.

I am initiating €35 million in new services in 2017 to further implement "A Vision For Change". 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 of €9.7 million in mental health associated with increased pay rates.