Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
338. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the overall health budget that has been allocated to mental health for each of the budgets 2019 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52592/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, enhancing 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 2023.
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 2023, including that for Mental Health.
As I indicated in my reply to PQ 674 of 3 October 2022 from the Deputy, financial comparisons between provision for HSE Mental Health and overall HSE funding for the years 2019 to 2022 is set out in the relevant HSE Service Plans for those years. I have therefore asked the HSE to supply the detailed information sought direct to the Deputy. As indicated above, the position in relation to next year is subject to finalisation of the HSE Service Plan 2023.
