Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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655. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the deadline regarding action 1.15 of Rebuilding Ireland, which commits to providing mental health services to those in homeless services by Q4 2016, has been attained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8950/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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In line with Action 1.15 of Rebuilding Ireland, €2m in funding was made available in 2016 from the mental health budget for enhanced care and case management programmes to link homeless people with complex needs within the Dublin region into mental health and addiction services. This allocation will continue in 2017.

In addition, the HSE Service Plan 2017 has earmarked a further €1.5m to expand services introduced in 2016 and to provide additional health care supports to improve the ability of those in homeless services to sustain a normal tenancy, in line with the Housing First approach. These services will be phased in during 2017 resulting in a full year cost of €4m, but actual expenditure of €1.5m.

It is envisaged that the total package of services and supports for this vulnerable group will result in expenditure of €6m in 2018, thus fulfilling the commitment in Action 1.15.