Denis Naughten
Question:210. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the mental health funding announced in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38976/20]
View answerWednesday, 25 November 2020
Questions (210)
Written answers
Budget 2021 saw an additional €50 million allocated to Mental Health Services, bringing the total 2021 mental health budget to €1,076 billion, which is the biggest mental health budget on record. This emphasises the Government’s continued commitment to mental health and the priority it deserves in these unsettling times.
The additional allocation includes €23 million to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision, the national mental health policy. This includes establishing the structures required to implement the policy and the expansion of the clinical care programmes for dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis, and mental health and intellectual disability. It will also fund additional mental health beds, enhanced community mental health teams, CAMHS hubs/teams, adult crisis resolution services, increased supports in employment, peer support workers, bereavement coordinators, and dialectical behaviour therapy.
€15 million will assist with meeting the challenges arising from Covid-19. The number of step-down beds will be increased and extra resources will be provided for community mental health teams. Reconfiguration of mental health facilities, in line with Mental Health Commission recommendations, and enhancement of digital mental health supports will also take place.
The remaining €12 million of the €50 million additional mental health funding for 2021 will address existing level of service costs, including placements for people whose needs cannot be met within the public mental health system.