Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1270 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if recruitment of the 414 staff for mental health services as announced in the Health Service Executive service plan 2012 has begun and the number of posts that have been filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/12]
View answerA special allocation of €35m for mental health was provided in Budget 2012 in line with commitments in the Programme for Government. This funding will be used to enhance Community Mental Health Teams, improve access to psychological therapies in primary care and implement suicide prevention strategies. It is planned that 414 staff will be recruited to the mental health service to deliver on these objectives. The staffing requirement relating to each region has been identified and the information necessary to commence recruitment is in the process of being collated by the four Regional Directors of Operations. It is proposed that the new professionals will be drawn from existing National Recruitment Service panels where available and new competitions will be established for the remaining posts.
