Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2015
154. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report, of the additional 1,150 posts in mental health services that were approved over the past number of years, the number of actual posts filled; and when the outstanding posts will be filled [18003/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government has provided an additional €125 million and some 1,150 posts for mental health, since 2012. The funding is being used to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children, to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, forensic mental health services, and to enhance access to counselling and psychotherapy in primary care and investment in suicide prevention measures. The additional funding is enabling the HSE to recruit staff who are more suited to the development of a community-focused Mental Health Service and has provided for a required change in the mix of staff, in particular allied health professionals, across Community Mental Health Teams, in line with A Vision for Change.
As at 17th April 2015, 397.5 or 95.5% of the 416 posts approved for 2012 and 405.5 or 85% of the 477 posts approved for 2013 have been filled. Of the 250 posts allocated in 2014, 50 have started and a further 70.5 are at various stages in the recruitment process.
There are some difficulties in identifying some outstanding candidates, for geographic and qualification reasons. The HSE Mental Health Division is acutely aware of the need to focus on recruitment of frontline staff and is working closely with the Human Resources and the National Recruitment Service to address difficulties attracting candidates to particular parts of the country. A number of national and international recruitment campaigns are under way currently for medical consultant posts, senior and staff nurses as well as a range of required allied health professionals and support staff to deliver a multidisciplinary based Mental Health Service. Every effort is being made to fill the remainder of the approved posts as quickly as possible.
