Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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252. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the €24 million for new developments in Budget 2022 will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51500/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2022 saw another record budget allocation for mental health services of €1.149 billon.  An additional €47 million has been added to the Mental Health Services budget, comprising €24 million for new developments, €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid and €13 million for existing level of service.

Separately, another €10 million is being made available in 2021, aimed at supporting the community and voluntary pillar in the mental health sector.

The €24 million is being prioritised for the continued development of mental health services, including out of hours supports, CAMHS and mental health clinical programmes. It provides for the recruitment of 350 whole time equivalent staff. Mental health services for older people will also be developed, in line with the model of care for specialist mental health services for older people that will be piloted next year.

€6 million will be used to continue to enhance the capacity of community mental health teams, with a particular emphasis on CAMHS, while there will be over €1.4 million in new funding for crisis resolution services. Another €1.15 million will be allocated to continue the roll out of specialist eating disorder teams in CHOs 1, 3, 5 and 6. Other initiatives include recovery focused supports, including peer supports, employment supports and recovery colleges.

The details of the initiatives to be funded will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.