Mental Health Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (1362, 1371, 1391, 1439)

Finian McGrath

Question:

1362. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed €35 million allocation on mental health. [37554/13]

Seán Fleming

Question:

1371. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the pre-budget petition received from the Mental Health Reform group; if he will consider protecting this area from cuts in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/13]

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

1391. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that his Department's plans for the health budget in 2014 includes investment in community mental health teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37672/13]

Tom Fleming

Question:

1439. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the promise to invest €35 million annually in community mental health services here is honoured in Budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37840/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1362, 1371, 1391 and 1439 together.

This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health service in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. Additional funding totalling €70 million and some 900 new posts have been provided as part of the last two Budgets primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness and forensic mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.

Of the 414 posts approved in 2012, as at the 26th August 2013, 397 have been filled or are awaiting clearance. Of the 477 posts approved in 2013, as at 26th August 2013, 220 have been accepted with a further 24 posts offered to candidates. Of the 233 remaining posts, 162 are at various stages in the recruitment process. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. You will appreciate, however, that on occasion it is difficult to fill some posts for various reasons including availability of qualified candidates and geographical location.

The question of funding for mental health next year is being considered as part of the Estimates Process 2014, which is currently underway, and Mental Health Reform's submission has been noted in this context.