Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
7. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the reason no additional funding was given to the national clinical programmes in mental health for 2023; what this means for the timelines for completion of the expansion of the national clinical programmes; if increased funding will be delivered in budget 2024 for the national clinical programmes for mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40731/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe are coming up to the budget. I would like to know why no additional funding was provided to the national clinical programmes in mental health in 2023. This meant there was no additional funding to expand national clinical programmes for self-harm and suicide, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, eating disorders or early intervention in psychosis. What does this mean for the timelines for completion of the expansion of the national clinical programmes? Will increased funding be delivered in budget 2024 for the national clinical programmes for mental health?
I thank the Deputy for his question. As he will be aware, I have prioritised the clinical programmes since I came into this role. I am now heading into my fourth budget. The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years and 2023 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.2 billion. Budget 2023 delivered almost €58 million in additional funding and a further €10 million in once-off funding for much-needed minor capital works across the mental health system. This additional funding includes support for national clinical programmes. Since I took up the post of Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I have secured just under 800 additional posts for mental health services and recruitment continues. I work closely with mental health colleagues in the HSE, including regular meetings with the national clinical adviser and group leads to oversee the development and expansion of the national clinical programmes and models of care in line with Sharing the Vision. Just after the recess, in July, I met all the leads of the clinical programmes to discuss priorities for next year. I am very pleased that in the past few weeks I have been able to work with the HSE to launch new models of care for both dual diagnosis and five new child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, hubs. I welcome the continued work being done throughout the mental health services to ensure that modern, patient-centred care is developed and rolled out.
Specifically, to answer the Deputy's question, around 10,500 whole-time equivalent posts have been approved for HSE mental health services, of which 4,924 are nursing posts. In 2021, the HSE approved the release of 302 previously held programme for Government posts. This occurred alongside planned recruitment of an additional 154 posts under new development and 322 posts under new development 2022. This provided for an additional 780 staff across services. Significant progress continued in quarter 1 of this year, with the recruitment of 423 staff. I will come back with the rest of the answer later.
According to the response I got on 20 July, national clinical programmes did not receive any funding for new posts to expand clinical programme services in 2023. We are approaching budget time and the Opposition Members have to turn into forensic accountants to try to go through what is being said and what is actually being delivered on the ground. Last year, the Minister of State tweeted that there was €72.8 million in additional funding for mental health. The budget book added up to €57 million - I think the Minister of State mentioned €58 million. When I eventually made my way through all the smoke and mirror tactics, it was revealed that there was only €14 million in additional money for new developments in vital mental health services. It was only in the middle of this year that we found out there was no funding in 2023 for the national clinical programmes. I want to know whether the money committed to national clinical programmes in budget 2024 will be additional to new funding not provided this year. Will the Government eventually commit to multi-annual funding for national clinical programmes?
The Deputy hit the nail on the head about multi-annual funding. I have secured 800 posts since I took over this role. We are currently recruiting for clinical programmes this year. Whether the money was secured in budget 2021, 2022 or 2023, that does not really matter when a child is in front of one of these clinicians.
What really matters is that money was provided for ongoing services across clinical programmes.
As regards new development funding, it takes 18 months to put a full clinical multidisciplinary team in place. As of this year, we have recruited 423 staff. Of the 800 staff, 423 are in place and there are 360 posts at various stages in the recruitment process. All of the clinical programmes will see new staff this year. It is irrelevant whether the money was secured in budget 2021, 2022 or 2023; we secured 800 posts and they are currently being recruited.
I spent the recess meeting several different groups and organisations. For example, I will go through some of the national clinical programmes mentioned. I met with Lucena CAMHS, which deals with ADHD. I also met with ADHD Ireland and Families for Reform of CAMHS. They all cited issues with waiting lists for young people with ADHD accessing mental health supports. Nothing the Minister of State has said gives me confidence that will improve. There are still only three public inpatient beds for adults with eating disorders. The Minister of State said she would commit to improving that through her time in government but it has not improved. There have been improvements in other areas but there has been no improvement on those three beds.
As regards suicide, I refer to statistics relating to CAMHS. There are children waiting more than 100 days to be treated for suicidal ideation in various CHO areas. There are children waiting 190 days to be treated for deliberate self-harm and there are children waiting 60 days or more to be treated for suicidal intent. It has been proven that every €1 spent on early intervention saves the Government €17 but that area has not received the money it needs. I am seeking assurances that the Government will provide money to these national clinical programmes.
The clinical programmes have been expanded across the country for the past three years. The Deputy stated that he met Lucena. I met it last week. It has two new ADHD teams that were approved this year and are in place. I was delighted to hear that. As regards psychosis, many of the clinical programmes are originally started on a pilot basis and then rolled out. I travelled to Sligo this year, where there is a new psychosis team in place that is doing phenomenal work.
I take the point being made by the Deputy. He knows there are demands on the availability of staff. Since I have come into my role, however, 800 new posts have been funded. To date, 423 of them are in place and there is currently recruitment of 360. I want to recruit people into all the multidisciplinary teams in order that the teams are padded out. It is very important we do that. It is irrelevant whether the funding was secured in 2021 or 2022. The posts were secured and they are being recruited now. The most important thing is that we get people into these posts and deliver the services for children.
