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Mental Health Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2013

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Questions (214)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

214. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to ensure that the target of spending 8% of the health budget on mental health is reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44020/13]

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Written answers

In 2013, 5.5% of the Health Service Executive Budget (€733 million) will be spent on specialist mental health services. Since 2012, funding has been at a lower percentage than in previous years as prior to that the figures in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for Health Care Group Areas such as Mental Health included an allocated share in relation to both pension and corporate costs, which are now shown separately. In addition, about 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems in their lifetime, many of whom will be dealt with in primary care. It is estimated that approximately 90% of mental health problems are dealt with in primary care and some 30% of people who attend primary care have a mental health problem and expenditure on these services is not captured in this percentage.

This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change our strategy for the development of our mental health services 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.

In Budget 2014, the Government has again re-committed to the continuation of the development of this critical service for a highly vulnerable group in these extremely challenging times, where the options for additional expenditure generally are very constrained. A sum of €20 million is being ring-fenced for the further development of our mental health services in 2014. This €20m means that, despite serious resource pressures overall, funding of €90m has been made available since 2012, up to the end of 2014, that has been specifically ear-marked for mental health and suicide prevention.

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