Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which child psychiatric services need to be enhanced in order to meet requirements; his plans to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24037/16]
View answerThe additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million provided over 2012 - 16 inclusive has contributed significantly to implementation of A Vision for Change. Implementation of this policy is progressed in the context of agreed annual HSE Service Plans, and in line with evolving service priorities and overall resource availability each year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 National Service Plan, an increase of €41m or 5.2%, including €35m ring-fenced for new developments this year.
A Vision for Change recommends the provision of 80 additional child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient beds nationally. The HSE Mental Health Operational Plan 2016 indicates that there are 76 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service beds in the system, of which 66 are operational at present. In the context of expanding bed capacity, the HSE is endeavouring to address staff recruitment or retention difficulties in certain Child and Adolescent facilities, such as the Eist Linn unit in Cork. As these staffing issues are resolved, the potential exists to increase capacity, whether for in-patient or community based care for those under age 18.
The issue raised by the Deputy is kept under regular review by the Department of Health and the HSE, in the context of monitoring progress on this year's Service Plan against a background of increasing demands generally on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health system.
The Government will also shortly launch the Task Force on Youth Mental Health, which will focus on promoting positive mental health and resilience among young people.
