Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
195. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the application process for groups to avail of the €10 million once-off funding announced in budget 2022 for mental health; the way mental health services are identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62157/21]
View answer196. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there is a timeline for when groups that are successful in receiving the once-off €10 million in funding announced in budget 2022 for mental health must spend same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62158/21]
View answer197. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a charity (details supplied) will distribute the €10 million once-off funding announced in budget 2022 for mental health; if this funding is open for application from groups; if so, the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62159/21]
View answer198. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the role of the HSE in allocating the €10 million once-off funding announced in budget 2022 for mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62160/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 198, inclusive, together.
On Budget Day 2022 an additional €10 million for mental health services and supports was announced by Minister McGrath. The funding was provided as a once-off measure.
To ensure that as many individuals as possible benefit from this funding, over €7 million will be allocated to improve the experiences of people using HSE mental health inpatient units, day centres, community mental health teams and community residences in all nine Community Health Organisations across the country. Funding will be used to improve the physical environments of some centres and enhance the range of social and therapeutic supports available. This funding will be distributed by the HSE.
As part of this funding, €1.8 million will be made available to mental health services for the replacement of fleet with green or hybrid vehicles in every Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO).
To ensure that the fund will impact on particular groups of individuals and specific areas of mental health service delivery, over €1 million has been allocated to enhance services and supports in areas such perinatal mental health, men’s mental health, trauma informed care, ethnic minorities, including the Traveller and Roma communities, eating disorders and dual diagnosis.
Areas of investment at CHO level include, for example, the allocation of €150,000 to improve and enhance acute inpatient mental health care in CHO 5; €500,000 for mental health day services provision in the East Cork area; and €170,000 for the continued operation of the mental health crisis café in Galway.
Almost €3 million will be made available to the community and voluntary sector, including €1 million in funding for the continued delivery of free counselling sessions through MyMind, who deliver support in over 15 different languages to people nationwide. This is particularly important given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Ireland’s population.
Funding of €1 million will be distributed by Mental Health Ireland through their extensive network of grassroots mental health organisations in local communities nationwide. A call for applications to avail of such funding will be advertised shortly by Mental Health Ireland.
