Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
336. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the 2026 mental health budget by current spending; the capital/expenditure for infrastructure, new buildings, refurbishments, equipment; programme-level funding (e.g. CAMHS, crisis services, community supports, suicide prevention; regional health area allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56227/25]
View answer338. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount of new additional funding (above the 2025 base) which was allocated to mental health in budget 2026; and the amount which is existing services, by service category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56229/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 338 together.
The total allocation for mental health services in 2026 is almost €1.6bn, which is the sixth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. An additional 300 WTE staff will be allocated to mental health services in 2026, representing 9% of the total growth in health service staffing next year.
This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and our national suicide and self-harm reduction strategy Connecting for Life, across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, through to specialist mental health services. This year’s budget provided the opportunity to focus on investing in crisis support and suicide prevention; youth mental health and CAMHS, and expanding the National Clinical Programmes.
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 2026 and HSE Capital Plan 2026, including that for Mental Health.
