Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2020
120. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the funding available for community mental health services that do not receive funding through the HSE or other Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33967/20]
View answerThere are several mechanisms whereby community voluntary organisations can seek funding. Organisations can apply to HSE Mental Health Services for national lottery grant funding through the relevant local Community Health Organisation. Details can be found at: https://www2.hse.ie/services/national-lottery-grants/national-lottery-grants.html.
In addition, organisations provide mental health services to or on behalf of the HSE at both local and national level, under a variety of supply arrangements, such as section 39 funding. Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE may support any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide. Details can be found at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/non-statutory-sector/section-39-documentation.html
The Government Covid Stability Fund was launched in May this year. It provided €35 million to assist community and voluntary organisations, charity and social enterprises which are experiencing financial difficulties due to a reduction in their fundraising or trading income as a direct result of Covid-19. Mental health organisations have been granted approximately €400,000 so far from the fund. Budget 2021 announced an additional €10m to be made available for the fund. Allocation of this has yet to be decided, but it will be dispersed by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Pobal administers a number of funds on behalf of other Departments. Details of these can be found at: https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/
