Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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244. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a comprehensive report on the mental health budget for 2021: the budget allocated; the way in which it was spent; the services it was spent on; the details of overspends or underspends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51492/21]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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248. To ask the Minister for Health when the 2021 mental health budget was released to his Department: the amount which was not released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51496/21]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding from the mental health budget which has been withheld from the HSE by his Department in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51497/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 248 and 249 together.

2021 saw a then record budget for mental health of over €1.114 billion, including €23 million to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Visionin 2021 and the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) and €15 million to address the additional challenges posed by Covid-19.

An additional €10 million in once off funding has been made available for further investment in mental health services in 2021, with a particular emphasis on community and voluntary based supports.

As part of the annual budgetary process the Department releases funding for specific new initiatives set out in the HSE's National Service Plan subject to the receipt, review and approval of implementation plans in relation to each initiative.

Of the €23 million for new initiatives, €8.737 million has been released to the HSE. This funding has enabled the HSE to progress specific initiatives, including crisis resolution teams, peer support programmes, individual placement supports, development of the national clinical programmes, the recently launched DBT training programme and the recruitment of a bereavement co-ordinator under Connecting for Life, the National Strategy to Reduce Suicide.

The Deputy will be aware that the pandemic and the cyber-attack have caused difficulties across the entirety of the health service, including Mental Health Services. Recruitment and retention of staff also remain difficulties that are continually being addressed through national and international advertising campaigns.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the health budget that is dedicated to mental health provision in each of the years 2019 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51493/21]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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254. To ask the Minister for Health the total mental health budget between 2020 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51502/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 254 together.

The final allocation for all health service areas is set out in the relevant HSE National Service Plans. The Mental Health Services allocations for the years 2019 – 2022, as set out in the relevant Plans, are set out in the table below. The precise allocation for 2022 will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process for 2022:

Budget 2022 highlights the Government’s continued commitment to mental health by the allocation of an additional €47 million to the HSE Mental Health Services Budget, comprising €24 million for new developments, €13 million for existing level of service and €10 million in once off funding for COVID-19.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health the funding available from Budget 2022 for community mental health services that do not receive funding through the HSE or other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51494/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The development of all aspects of mental health services remains a priority for Government. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government, Sharing the Vision - A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and the HSE National Service Plans.

2022 will see another record budget of €1.149 billion for mental health services. This includes an additional €47 million for next year and comprises €24 million for new developments, €13 million for existing levels of service and €10 million in once off funding for mental health initiatives in response to Covid.

An additional €10 million once off funding has been made available for further investment in mental health services in 2021, with a particular emphasis on community and voluntary based supports. Plans for this funding are currently being finalised by Minister Butler and the Department in liaison with the HSE.

Of note, multiple funding streams are available from other departments and agencies for mental health supports. For example, Pobal managed funds and the LEADER fund.

The Government as whole is committed to ensuring continued investment in mental health so that we can further improve and enhance our mental health services and supports.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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247. To ask the Minister for Health the areas in which the €13 million allocated for existing mental health services in Budget 2022 will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51495/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2022 saw another record budget allocation for mental health services of €1.149 billon. This is an increase of €47 million on 2021, comprising €24 million for new developments, €13 million for existing level of service and €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid.

The €13 million for existing level of service has been allocated to the HSE as part of its overall budget for core mental health services and details of the services to be provided will be finalised in the context of the National Service Plan 2022 process. 

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Health the monies returned unspent to the Exchequer from the HSE CAMHS budget in each year from 2019 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51498/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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251. To ask the Minister for Health the funds returned unspent to the Exchequer from the budget of his Department in 2018 and 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51499/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should note that no funding was returned to the exchequer from the Department of Health (Vote 38) in 2018 or 2019.

In 2018 and 2019 additional funding was approved for Vote 38 by the Oireachtas through a Supplementary Estimate.