Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
1163. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to outline the percentage of the health budget that is allocated to mental health in each year from 2019, up to and including Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47668/23]
View answerThe total allocation for mental health services in 2024 is approximately €1.3 billion, which is the fourth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. This year’s budget allocation builds on the investment this Government has made over the last number of years to deliver the policy priorities of Sharing the Vision through the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2024.
As part of the funding allocated to mental health services, new development funding has been secured to advance initiatives on youth mental health, and around priority groups identified within our national suicide prevention strategy Connecting for Life. This new development funding will be focused on increased CAMHS staffing, a new Youth Mental Health app, a referral pilot for children's community services including CAMHS (piloting an approach to service referrals known as ‘No Wrong Door’), the expansion of Suicide Bereavement Liaison Services, and expanding the Traveller Counselling Service to achieve national coverage for the first time.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2024, including that for Mental Health.
Please see below table outlining the budget allocation to HSE Mental Health Services as a percentage of the health budget since 2019:
Mental Health Funding as a Percentage of Health Budget 2012 - 2020
|
Year |
Allocation (NSP) - €m |
% of Total Health Budget |
|
2019 |
987.4 |
6.3% |
|
2020 |
1,031.3 |
6.1% |
|
2021 |
1,114.1 |
5.4% |
|
2022 |
1,159.0 |
5.6% |
|
2023 |
1,226.7 |
5.7% |
|
2024 |
1,295.5 |
5.8% |
While the table provides a breakdown of the percentage of the health budget allocated to mental health in each year from 2019 to 2024, it should be noted that funding for mental health supports is dispersed across many areas of Government, and there is no single headline funding figure which captures this important figure. For example, the figure of approximately €1.3 billion above does not include funding for other parts of the health service that provide mental health services and supports, such as psychotropic medicines funded by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, liaison mental health services in acute hospitals, some dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health) services, and mental health and well-being promotion.
It also does not include spending by other departments on services that incorporate psychological or mental health supports, such as the Prison and Probation Services, Social Protection, Defence Forces, or the Department of Education.
