Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the extra amount given to mental health services in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43423/19]

Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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398. To ask the Minister for Health the extra amount to be allocated to mental health services in 2020 which is for new services [43426/19]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 398 together.

HSE Mental Health services will receive €1.026 billion in funding in 2020, an increase of €315m since 2012, and an increase of €39m over 2019.

The additional €39m increase to the Mental Health Services budget includes €13m for the continued rollout of new developments in 2020. The nature of these will be determined in discussions on the 2020 National Service Plan between the Department of Health and the HSE. It is expected, however, that priority will be given to the development of the new National Forensic hospital in Portrane and progression of the refreshed ‘A Vision for Change’, Ireland’s national mental health policy. The refresh will provide a way forward for mental health services for the next decade. In addition to the above, €12m from 2019 new developments will also be available to fund these developments as it will not be spent on an ongoing basis in 2019.

Additionally, €26m has been allocated for other costs, including pay, which will be used to maintain funding and enhance existing services. This includes CAMHs, where we have reduced the waiting list by around 500 since December 2018 to around 2,000 today. In addition, work will continue on mental health Clinical Programmes, such as those on eating disorders and ADHD, service upgrades, improving 7-days-a-week access, Counselling in Primary Care and services and progressing e-mental health initiatives.