Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013
304. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend Health Service Executive provided counselling psychologists. [15706/13]
View answer305. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend Health Service Executive provided counselling psychologists. [15707/13]
View answer306. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and twelve months to attend the national counselling service. [15708/13]
View answer307. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months for treatment by the Health Service Executive to tackle an eating disorder. [15709/13]
View answer308. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who are waiting over three months, six months, nine months and 12 months for treatment by the Health Service Executive to tackle an eating disorder. [15710/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 to 308, inclusive, together.
The Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community as envisaged in A Vision for Change. In 2012, a special allocation of €35 million was provided for mental health to be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children's mental health services, to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, and to facilitate the transfer of mental health service users from institutional to community based care.
Recruitment of over 330 of the additional 414 posts approved in 2012 has been completed and the HSE is aiming to fill the remaining posts in the very near future. A further €35 million was provided in budget 2013 for the continued development of mental health services across a range of headings, including the further ongoing development of community services and 477 posts have been approved to implement these measures. Discussions are ongoing within the HSE, and in consultation with the Department of Health to finalise the allocation of these resources and commence recruitment. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with the specific details requested relating to waiting times.
