Written Answers Nos. 337-359
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.
339. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the way in which the additional funding of €14 million will be spent; the services that it will go towards; when these new measures will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52593/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that will be allocated to the progression of mental health waiting lists; the way in which it will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52594/22]
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.
341. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that will be allocated to the progression of peer support and recovery services; the way in which it will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDrug and alcohol support groups and treatment programmes play important roles in reducing the harms of substance use and supporting rehabilitation and recovery. They help individuals to build their recovery capital and to avoid relapse into harmful patterns of substance use.
In Budget 2023, I secured an additional €10.5m for the national drugs strategy and inclusion health. The funding will be used to expand HSE healthcare services and to support community & voluntary organisations to improve access to health and social care services. Details of the additional funding are outlined in the attached factsheet.
I believe this additional funding will strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, through reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery for people who experience addiction to drugs and alcohol.
342. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that will be allocated to the progression of the roll-out of more digital mental health supports; the way in which it will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount in euro of the investment earmarked for approved centres to ensure that they comply with the Mental Health Commission's requirements and the centres to which it is allocated, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52597/22]
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. It will help enhance 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 enable 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 for Mental Health.
344. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that will be allocated for additional employment and housing supports for persons with mental health difficulties; the way in which the funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52598/22]
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. It will enhance 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 enable 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 for Mental Health.
345. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount in funding that will be allocated to funding for counselling and psychology training; the way in which the funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52599/22]
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. It will enhance 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 enable us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023.
346. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52600/22]
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. It will help enhance 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 it will enable 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 for Mental Health.
347. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52601/22]
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. It will help enhance 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 it will enable 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 for Mental Health.
348. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the additional funding in budget 2023 that has been allocated for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, excluding existing levels of service; the way in which this funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52602/22]
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. It will enhance 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 enable 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 for Mental Health.
349. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the additional funding in budget 2023 that has been allocated for eating disorders, excluding existing levels of service; the way in which this funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52603/22]
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. It will enhance 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 enable 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 for Mental Health.
350. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the additional funding in budget 2023 that has been allocated for primary care psychology, excluding existing levels of service; the way in which this funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52604/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total Budget allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion. This is another record budget for mental health services, which includes the greatest increase of €72.8m given in one year and demonstrates the commitment of the Government to this key care programme. 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.
In 2021, funding of €4 million was allocated to an initiative to target a reduction in the waiting list for children and young people under the age of 18 waiting over 12 months to access primary care psychology services, further investment of approximately €1.4 million in early 2022 was secured to support the ongoing initiative. This year, the Government’s Waiting List action plan also assigned funding of €5.5 million to primary care child psychology services.
In 2022, the primary care psychology waiting list initiative has enabled almost 2,400 young people to access the service than otherwise would have. The initiative consists of work being implemented across the CHOs to tackle this waiting list and includes validation exercises, increased tele-screening and tele-consults, and increased provision of individual and group workshops as appropriate. Almost 2,500 young people have been removed from the primary care psychology waiting list through the work of this initiative.
The HSE has also targeted the recruitment of staff psychologists, clinical psychologists, and administrative support staff, with campaigns underway across the CHOs. A national recruitment campaign to replenish the psychology assistant panel is also underway, which is expected to have a positive impact on activity and waitlist trends.
Although primary care psychology is not the focus of the Enhanced Community Care Programme, the service will benefit from the new network structures, improvements in multi-disciplinary working and focus on local population needs.
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.
351. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in the ward at Letterkenny University Hospital that accommodate both haematology and oncology patients; and his plans to add to this number of beds for haematology and oncology patients. [52612/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA capital submission for a new Aseptic Compounding Unit and extension of Oncology Day Unit Project is included in the Capital Plan 2022 for appraisal.
Pending the results of the appraisal by the HSE, the project will be eligible for prioritisation and consideration in the Capital Plan 2023. The Capital Plan 2023 is currently under development and I am not in a position to confirm which projects will be included in the plan.
A robust needs-based prioritisation exercise will be carried out to ensure that best value is achieved from the available capital budget.
352. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the capacity of the haematology and oncology day unit at Letterkenny University Hospital. [52613/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA capital submission for a new Aseptic Compounding Unit and Extension of Oncology Day Unit Project is included in the Capital Plan 2022 for appraisal.
Pending the results of the appraisal by the HSE, the project will be eligible for prioritisation and consideration in the Capital Plan 2023. The Capital Plan 2023 is currently under development and I am not in a position to confirm which projects will be included in the plan.
A robust needs-based prioritisation exercise will be carried out to ensure that best value is achieved from the available capital budget.
353. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his Department is satisfied that there are robust systems in place to prevent payments continuing to be issued under the GMS system to persons who are deceased; if overpaid moneys can be recovered when detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52616/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra354. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
355. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a decision made in 2011 about congregated settings will be reversed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52625/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
356. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for an extension of the medical device directive and active implantable medical device directive certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52633/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
