Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years. I would note that 2023 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.2bn. Budget 2023 delivered almost €58m in additional funding, and a further €10m in once-off funding for much needed minor capital works across the Mental Health system.

Funding allocated to mental health services in recent years has allowed for the continued investment in the mental health national clinical programmes and models of care, which has led to significant service improvements, including the full implementation of specialist perinatal mental health network provided for and the on-going expansion of specialist mental health teams for eating disorders, ADHD in adults, and dual diagnosis. In fact, since coming into Government I have secured almost 800 additional posts for Mental Health services in this country, and I am pleased to see that continued recruitment for these posts has remained a priority for the HSE.

Importantly, as budgets increase, we need to ensure that we have plans and strategies in place so that those resources are used effectively and efficiently to the benefit of people using our mental health services. All aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed, through Sharing the Vision in the short to longer term. Sharing the Visionaims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.

It should be borne in mind that our health and personal social care services overall has changed and improved significantly on several fronts since 1984. This includes many new services that were prioritised and funded since that time to meet emerging needs in line with national and international best practice. This has to be taken into account for any comparison purposes, not only for Mental Health, but for health expenditure overall by the Exchequer.

The Department is currently engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2024 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional funding for mental health in 2024. I am aware of the pre-Budget submission from the organisation referred to by the Deputy and I will bear this in mind in the context of the on-going Estimates 2024. process.