Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

819. To ask the Minister for Health the mental health budget expenditure allocation, including the new or additional services that will be provided for in 2018 from the additional €15 million allocation and the €20 million in services committed to in budget 2017 and carried forward into 2018. [46823/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

€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 €57.5 million approximately 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. €22.5 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.

Discussions are ongoing with the HSE regarding finalising its National Service Plan 2018.