Government fails to deliver promised funding for mental health in budget 2018
Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has today expressed dismay that the Government will allocate just €15M of additional funding for mental health services in 2018. This follows confirmation today by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, that €20M of the €35M announced in Budget 2018, reflects funding already promised in 2017.
Speaking today, Director of Mental Health Reform, Shari McDaid, said,
“The Government announced yesterday an additional €35M for 2018, but they failed to say that €20m of this actually comes from the €35M committed in Budget 2017. In reality, this amounts to just €15M additional funding for mental health services in 2018 which does not fulfil the Confidence and Supply Arrangement in relation to mental health.”
“Ireland’s mental health services are under severe pressure and last week, RTÉ reported that they need approximately €65M just to maintain existing levels of service in the context of increased demand. We are deeply concerned that essential mental health services will not be in place for people in mental distress who need them, and that new developments including expanding access to out-of-hours mental health services will not be possible within the financial constraints set by this Budget.”
“We call on the Government to fulfil their commitment to invest €55M in mental health services, as per the Confidence and Supply Arrangement.”
