Joan Collins
Ceist:119. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department is withholding €25 million of the €55 million allocated to mental health services for 2019. [41167/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 9 October 2019
Ceisteanna (119)
Freagraí scríofa
Budget 2019 made allowance for an additional €55 million for Mental Health Services to build on existing services. This is made up of the €20 million continuing cost in 2019 of developments initiated in 2018, combined with €35 million for further new developments. Since 2012, the Mental Health HSE Budget has been increased by almost 40%, from €711 million to nearly €1 billion this year.
This investment has enabled the HSE Mental Health Services to progress initiatives agreed in the National Service Plan 2019. Initiatives such as e-mental health pilot programmes and Clinical Programmes in areas such as Eating Disorders and ADHD continue to be developed and implemented with this funding. The relocation of the National Forensic Mental Health Service to Portrane is another significant investment undertaken by HSE Mental Health Services.
To date, the HSE has drawn down €30 million of the foregoing funding, and an application for a further €10 million is currently being processed. In addition, €3 million has been paid to Pobal for the Community Mental Health Fund.
The management of the remaining €12m funding for 2019 will be agreed with the HSE in the coming weeks.