Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
119. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 16 October 2012, the number of the 150 posts promised for child and adolescent mental health services that are now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22573/13]
View answerIn 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. Some 414 posts were approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures. As at 29 April last, some 122 of the designated 150 posts for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services have been filled, are under offer or awaiting clearance. The National Recruitment Service (NRS) of the HSE creates national panels in anticipation of vacancies. On occasion, however, it is difficult to fill some posts for various reasons including geographical location, international shortage of some grades, most notably clinical Psychologists etc. The NRS is working to ensure the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, subject to appropriately qualified candidates being available.
