Mental Health Commission

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Ceisteanna (321)

Barry Ward

Ceist:

321. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the amount spent or incurred by the Mental Health Commission on consultants, advisers, or contracts related to communications, media, public relations, marketing, advertising or related activities in respect of the calendar year 2023, calendar year 2024 and 1 January 2025 to 31 May 2025, in tabular form, in each instance indicating the year and calendar month of the expenditure, as well as the directorate or division of the Mental Health Commission that was the intended primary beneficiary of those services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35027/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

The Mental Health Commission’s (MHC) Annual Financial Statements for 2023, which were audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) as per Section 47 of the Mental Health Act 2001 and the 2016 Code, provide detail on the questions raised and are published on the Commission's website at the following link: www.mhcirl.ie/sites/default/files/2024-08/MHC%20Annual%20Financial%20Statements%202023_FINAL%2027.06.2024.pdf. The unaudited MHC Annual Financial Statements for 2024 have recently been submitted to the C&AG and will be published on the MHC website as soon as they are available. Amounts spent or incurred from January 1 to May 31, 2025, can only be provided once they have been audited by the C&AG and published.

The communication and media activity in 2023 reflects the development and roll-out of a multichannel public information campaign which included advertisements on television, radio, press, online, social media as well as out-of-home, video on demand, and Irish language advertising. This public awareness programme was implemented in collaboration with the Health Service Executive and supported by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.