Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 April 2016
48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total amount that it is intended to cut from the mental health budget in 2016; and if he will provide a breakdown of which services will be affected and the amount of funding removed from each service [8570/16]
View answerFunding for mental health services will increase this year, no matter what developments take place during the year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 NSP, an increase of €41m or 5.2%. which includes the €35m ring fenced for mental health.
The last Government increased the ring-fenced mental health funding by a total of €160 million over 2012-16 inclusive. The €12 million in 2016 is being transferred temporarily to social care, including home care packages for older people and step-down beds.
The €35m allocation for mental health involves the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments. As staff recruitment takes time, the Service Plan provides that time related savings of approximately €12m from this, as well as other funding from primary care, therapy services for young people and nursing task force pilot implementation would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds and for vaccine procurement. As the initiatives planned for mental health and other areas identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan.
Funding has not yet been allocated to specific areas. The HSE National Service Plan 2016 identifies priorities for allocation of the €35 million, including the continued development of early intervention and prevention counselling services by mental health and primary care as well as improved provision of psychotherapeutic interventions and children with mental illness. The Department of Health is currently examining proposals from the HSE relating to the development of these specific enhanced priority services, as well as proposals for the ongoing development of a range of existing and new specialist mental health services. It is expected that a decision on the release of the funding will be made shortly.
In the context of the overall funding increase I have indicated for mental health in 2016, I am satisfied that good progress will be maintained on improving all aspects of this key service into the future.
