Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
352. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health with regard to the additional €35 million announced for mental health in budget 2018 the amount of this that is related to the full year value of the €15 million increase announced in 2017. [43723/17]
View answerBudget 2017 made allowance for an additional €35 million for services to be initiated in 2017 and continued in 2018. €15 million was provided as part of the overall 2017 Budget. This recognised the time-frame required to initiate new developments, the time lag of new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction and enhancement of key priorities as specified in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan. These include youth mental health, further improvement to child and adolescent (CAMHS) and adult services, older people's Mental Health services and further enhanced out of hours response for those in need of urgent services.
Budget 2018 made allowance for an additional €59 million for Mental Health Services for 2018. €35 million is made up of the €20 million continuing cost in 2018 of developments initiated in 2017, combined with a further €15 million for further new developments. €24 million will fund pay-related costs. In addition, the Minister for Health has committed to a further €55 million to be made available for mental health services in 2019.
