James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Minister for Health the projected expenditure on mental health in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43720/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Mental Health Services expect to spend their full allocation of €853 million in 2017. New developments have been initiated and will continue to be enhanced, along with existing services, in the coming years in line with the Programme for Government and recommendations from A Vision for Change.

Between 2012 and 2017 €140 million additional funding has been provided to the Mental Health Budget, with an addition of €59.1 million announced in Budget 2018, bringing increased investment by the Government to over €200 million, or 28%, since 2012. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €15 million for mental health in 2017 which will be spent in 2017; the specific initiatives it has funded; the number of additional positions it has provided in the mental health division; the use to which unspent funds will be diverted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Mental Health Services Division expects to spend its full allocation of €853 million in 2017. This includes the €15 million allocated to new developments, which have been initiated and will continue to be enhanced, along with existing services, in the coming years in line with the Programme for Government and recommendations from A Vision for Change.

Among the initiatives funded by the €15 million are Forensic Community In-Reach Teams, additional Nurse Undergraduate places, and the enhancement of both 7-day-a-week and Eating Disorder services.

The number of additional posts provided for in 2017 is 325.

Budget 2018 made allowance for an additional €59 million for Mental Health Services for 2018. This includes pay-related costs of €24 million, €20 million to further progress the new initiatives commenced in 2017, and the €15 million for new developments above.

This increase will result in a Mental Health Budget of €912.1 million, an increase of €200 million, or 28%, since 2012. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health if the additional €15 million for mental health projects in 2017 will have a full year value of €35 million in 2018. [43722/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm the €15 million in budget 2017 combined with the continuing funding of €20 million in budget 2018 will have a full year value of €35 million in 2018. I can also confirm that a further €15 million has been included in budget 2018, and further spending of €55 million in 2019. This will bring spending on new developments in mental health to a total of €105 million over the three-year period, 2017-2019.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to the additional €35 million announced for mental health in budget 2018 the amount of this that is related to the full year value of the €15 million increase announced in 2017. [43723/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2017 made allowance for an additional €35 million for services to be initiated in 2017 and continued in 2018. €15 million was provided as part of the overall 2017 Budget. This recognised the time-frame required to initiate new developments, the time lag of new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction and enhancement of key priorities as specified in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan. These include youth mental health, further improvement to child and adolescent (CAMHS) and adult services, older people's Mental Health services and further enhanced out of hours response for those in need of urgent services.

Budget 2018 made allowance for an additional €59 million for Mental Health Services for 2018. €35 million is made up of the €20 million continuing cost in 2018 of developments initiated in 2017, combined with a further €15 million for further new developments. €24 million will fund pay-related costs. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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353. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the mental health budget of €885 million in 2018 announced in his Department’s budget press release reflects an increase of €35 million on 2017 in view of the fact that the HSE’s 2017 mental health operational plan projected a budget of €853.7 million in 2018 [43724/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2018 made allowance for an additional €59 million for Mental Health Services for 2018. €35 million is made up of the €20 million continuing cost in 2018 of developments initiated in 2017, combined with a further €15 million for further new developments. €24 million will fund pay-related costs. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.

This increase will result in a Mental Health Budget of €912.1 million, an increase of €200 million, or 28%, since 2012. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.