Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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626. To ask the Minister for Health if approval has been given to counselling or psychological services (details supplied) at primary care level for 2017; if so, the number that have been signed off; if approval has been given by all relevant Departments, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; if so, the recruitment challenges there have been; and the number that have been recruited. [18252/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In line with the commitment to develop early intervention mental health services for those under 18, €5 million has been allocated to primary care, of which €3.4 million will fund the recruitment of 114 Assistant Psychologists in primary care. This will enhance the primary care response and help to reduce waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services. My Department is engaged in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the sanctioning of these posts.

The HSE Mental Health Division currently employs approximately 213 Psychologists with 67 of these operating within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. A further 60 psychology students participate as members of community based mental health teams providing services to children and adults. In addition, the HSE, currently funds a number of agencies to provide a variety of counselling services to young people. This includes 11 existing Jigsaw sites nationally together with further planned expansion of this service for 2017 with additional sites in both Cork and in Limerick.