Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2013
206. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of the 477 community mental positions promised in the past two budgets that have been filled; if he will provide in tabular form the number of these positions filled and the numbers unfilled in each local health area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43990/13]
View answerThis Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services 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 allocated in 2012, as at 30th September 2013, the recruitment process is complete for 378 or 91%, of the posts. A number of the remaining posts are at various stages in the recruitment process. In addition, there are a number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to various factors including the availability of qualified candidates and geographical location. Of the 477 posts approved in 2013, as at 30th September 2013, 255 or 54% of these posts were in the final stages of the recruitment process and a further 149 were at earlier stages, indicating that 85% of posts are in the recruitment process. I have received assurances from the HSE that the filling of these posts is being given priority within the HSE. In relation to the specific question on the number of positions filled or unfilled in each local health area, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly with this information.
