Neale Richmond
Ceist:
198. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of funding and resources for mental health services in An Garda Síochána over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17787/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the provision of employee welfare supports.
I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter raised and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Further to your Parliamentary Question No. 17 which I responded to on 22 October 2020 with regard to the mental health supports that are being provided to members of An Garda Síochána to support them through the Covid-19 pandemic, I refer to your Parliamentary Question No 198 which was for answer on the 23 July 2020 where you asked for a breakdown of funding and resources for mental health services in An Garda Síochána over the past five years. As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.
The requested information has now been responded to by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, please note the following;
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the provision of employee welfare supports.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is a variety of supports in place for members to assist them in dealing with stressful and difficult situations that they may encounter in the workplace.
These include a 24/7 Helpline and Counselling Service, a chaplaincy service, the Peer Supporters Network, the Garda Employee Assistance Service, the Garda Occupational Health Service, and independent mental health specialists. Garda Occupational Health provides a holistic support to members presenting with a broad spectrum of medical problems & circumstances; this would include presentations unrelated to mental health where the holistic support can involve optimising mental health supports and wellbeing. It is not possible to quantify the proportion of clinical work of the occupational health professionals (Occupational Health Physicians and Occupational Health Nurses) that is involved in addressing mental health concerns.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the data requested is only available for the years 2018, 2019 and from January to end June 2020. These cost are categorised as follows:
|
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020 (to end June 2020)
|
|
Independent Specialist Medical reports*
|
€102,645
|
€140,380
|
€100,590
|
|
Counselling/therapeutic psychology
|
€28,575
|
€41,912.6
|
€23,568.2
|
* The figures provided do not include cases relating to compensations reviews which were brought about under Application for Compensation under the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts, 1941 - 45
I trust this information is of assistance.
