Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the budget allocation to eating disorder services in Budget 2025; whether funding will be allocated to increase the number of adult inpatient beds; if so, the locating of these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40232/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2025 is approximately €1.5 billion, which is the fifth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This significant investment will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. This year’s budget allocation builds on the investment this Government has made over the last number of years to deliver the policy priorities of Sharing the Vision through 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 2025.
With regard to eating disorders, since taking up office in July 2020 I have prioritised the roll out of the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED).
The NCP-ED is being implemented across the country by multidisciplinary teams on a phased basis. There are now eleven teams in place: six Adult teams and five Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams. Six new teams started in 2023, and in May 2024, I announced the establishment of a new team for CHO7, which will cover the area of Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City and Dublin South West. This will bring the total number of eating disorder teams nationally to twelve.
Dedicated investment in eating disorders continues, and last year the Health Service Executive (HSE) spent €8.1m on eating disorder services under the Clinical Programme. I remain firmly committed to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists and recently met with the Clinical Leads of the National Programmes and Models of Care to discuss Budget Priorities for 2025.
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 2025, including that for Mental Health.
