Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2016
133. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the full amount of funding in 2017 for mental health services; the reason the €35 million previously committed for improving mental health services has been reversed and significantly reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32414/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2017 I received approval to initiate €35 million in new mental health services next year. From the outset the Government has been clear that it will not be possible to spend all of this revenue in 2017 due to timing factors. However, I have also received approval for very significant additional capital expenditure on mental health services. This has allowed for the award of the contract to construct a new Forensic Mental Health facility at Portrane. The redevelopment of forensic mental health facilities was a key recommendation in "A Vision for Change: The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy" which was published in 2006. Some €50 million will be spent on this capital project next year, with the total cost of the project in excess of €150 million.
Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan include youth mental health, further improvement to child & adolescent and adult services, older people's services and further enhanced out of hours response for those in need of urgent services. Recognising the time lag in new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction of these services, it is estimated that the revenue spend in 2017 associated with this increased allocation will be some €15 million. There will also be a further additional revenue spend of €9.7 million in mental health associated with increased pay rates. The revenue allocation for Mental Health in 2017 will be €851.3 million, an increase of €24.7 million, or approximately 3%, over 2016. This will be supplemented by a further €50 million in capital funding. Despite significant increase in the cost of the new National Forensic Mental Health facility since it was originally initiated in 2000, due mainly to price inflation in the construction sector, the capital provision made and the award of the construction contract will secure the long overdue modernisation of these services.
