Coalition of Mental Health Charities Launches Pre-Budget Submission Urging an Additional €200 million Investment in Mental Health Services
- Call for increased funding for Crisis Resolution Teams, CAMHS services, National Mother & Baby Unit, among range of services requiring support.
- Less than 6% of health budget currently allocated to mental health, against 10% target.
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After years of chronic underinvestment, Mental Health Reform, a coalition of charities representing service users, families and community groups, has called on the Government to “Pay the Bill” for mental health services in this country in its Pre-Budget Submission published today.
As part of its “Pay the Bill” campaign, the coalition of charities is calling for an additional €200 million investment in mental health services, made up of €120 million to develop new services to address unmet needs, and an €80 million top-up on existing funding to maintain current service levels. It points out that if Ireland is to meet a long-standing target of 10% of the health budget being allocated to mental health by 2030, as set out in Sláintecare, then there needs to be a real change of gear.
Mental Health Reform has listed a number of priority asks of the Government, including: the national rollout of Crisis Resolution Teams; a new recruitment drive to address CAMHS staffing shortages; the establishment of specialised services such as a National Mother & Baby Unit and Early Intervention in Psychosis programmes; mental health supports for minority groups including the homeless and Travellers; and funding for a national independent advocacy service.
10% Health Budget Target
Dr Louise Rooney, Policy & Research Manager at Mental Health Reform, comments:
“Right now, under 6% of the total health budget is allocated to mental health. With a target of 10% by 2030, we really need to see a step-change in the mental health budget allocation, starting with a minimum of a 6.5% commitment this year, and rising consistently in the coming years.”
The call comes as Ireland continues to face profound mental health challenges with recent research indicating that more than 40% of the population have experience of mental health difficulties1.
Dr Rooney continues:
“In 2023, the European Union revealed that Ireland was the most difficult country in Europe in which to access mental health services2. In fact, last year we spent approximately €93 million on outsourcing mental health care, made up of €13 million for the Treatment Abroad Scheme, and €79.66m for private mental health services – funds that could instead be redirected to build our own public and voluntary service capacity3.
For too long, too many people have been unable to access timely mental health care due to staff shortages, long waits, and under-resourced services. Chronic underinvestment has left the system overstretched and underfunded.
With the Mental Health Bill currently going before the Seanad, and as our legislators take a keen look at how we support some of the most vulnerable in our society, never has there been a more opportune time to demonstrate our collective desire for timely, equitable and effective care, with a commitment to sustained investment.
Budget 2026 is a chance to finally settle the long-standing debt to mental health and to ‘Pay the Bill’ that’s been long overdue.”
Mental Health Priorities
Among the key priorities being highlighted by Mental Health Reform that need to be addressed are:
- Accessing services – €25 million in additional developmental funding to address the factors behind long waiting lists, including upgrading emergency departments, and developing alternative crisis care pathways such as the national rollout of Crisis Resolution Teams and expansion of Solace cafés. This call comes against a backdrop of 51,000 crisis presentations to A&E each year4 and more than 14,795 people waiting for longer than one year to see a primary care psychologist as of May 20255. Funding is also required to address the rural-urban service gap and the current health region restructuring must be backed by transparent and ring-fenced funding for mental health.
- Youth mental health – €20 million for early support and outreach services, and to address critical staffing shortages and infrastructure gaps in CAMHS for young people with moderate to severe mental health needs. As of May, 4,437 children were waiting to be seen by CAMHS, up 16% on the same period last year, while the number of young people waiting more than 12 months for a first appointment – a total of 713 – rose by 45% on the same period6. In primary care, 8,829 children have been waiting over two years to access psychological support.7
- Sharing the Vision – €40 million to advance commitments set out in the national mental health strategy, including a strategic capital investment programme to upgrade infrastructure, and to expand specialised services and clinical programmes. Already key services such as the establishment of a National Mother & Baby Unit and the rollout of Early Intervention in Psychosis programmes, eating disorder teams, and dual diagnosis services have been delayed and require significant investment.
- Care in the Community – €25 million to resource the front lines of mental health by expanding access to early intervention, prevention and inclusive supports and services. This includes support for minority groups such as the homeless and Travellers who have a higher risk of mental health difficulties and face unique barriers to care. Mental Health Reform is also calling for a commitment to stable, multi-annual funding for the voluntary and community sector.
- Legal commitments – €10 million to resource the rollout of promised reforms in the Mental Health Bill and to fund a national independent advocacy service for mental health service users. Mental Health Reform is also reiterating its call to establish a statutory right to independent advocacy for all mental health service-users.
For more information on Mental Health Reform’s “Pay the Bill” campaign, visit www.mentalhealthreform.ie/budget-2026 and follow Mental Health Reform on social media #PaytheBill
To read the full report click here. To read our summary click here.
References
1 Maynooth University, National College of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin research, June 2022 https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/over-40-irish-adults-have-mental-health-disorder-and-one-ten-have-attempted-suicide-mu-nci-and and Laya Healthcare Mind Health Report 2025 https://www.layahealthcare.ie/media/site/pdfs/Laya-Mind-Health-Report.pdf
2 European Commission Eurobarometer Survey, October 2023 www.europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3032
3 HSE response to Parliamentary Question, April 2025 www.hse.ie/eng/about/personalpq/pq/2025-pq-responses/march-2025/pq-13261-25-marie-sherlock.pdf
4 Acute Mental Healthcare in Hospital Emergency Departments in Ireland, Mental Health Commission, April 2025
www.mhcirl.ie/sites/default/files/2025-04/MHC%202025%20Mental%20Healthcare%20in%20EDs%20FINAL.pdf
5 HSE response to Parliamentary Question, June 2025 www.hse.ie/eng/about/personalpq/pq/2025-pq-responses/june-2025/pq-34548-25-martin-daly.pdf
6 HSE National Performance Report, May 2025 www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/performancereports/national-performance-report-may-2025.pdf
7 HSE response to Parliamentary Question, July 2025 www.hse.ie/eng/about/personalpq/pq/2025-pq-responses/june-2025/pq-33455-25-liam-quaide.pdf