Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1312. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure other community mental health services are not forced to close due to funding issues; and whether a national strategy exists to support the long-term sustainability of organisations (details supplied). [37920/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you may be aware, the Department of Health does not have a mechanism to fund community voluntary organisations that provide a social community service. However, there are several ways in which these organisations can seek funding.
Organisations may apply for section 39 funding to provide mental health services to or on behalf of the HSE at both local and national level, under a variety of supply arrangements. Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE may support any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide.
All local community organisations seeking funding through the Section 39 scheme administered by local HSE Mental Health Services, must fulfil specific requirements for any potential funding application to be considered.
In any negotiations between HSE and any charity or organisation, information such as audited accounts, annual reports, governance arrangements and board of management details are required, so that HSE can undertake due diligence as part of consideration of any potential funding arrangements. For example, annual financial statements, and information on corporate and clinical governance would be required to be submitted before the HSE could consider any funding application.
The HSE are ready and available to provide guidance on work that any organisation may need to undertake to comply with the requirements of section 39 funding.
As Minister for Mental Health, I work hard each year to increase the amount of funding for counselling, suicide prevention, and other mental health services in our communities. However, the Department of Health and the HSE will always require due diligence and appropriate oversight before funding can be transferred to any organisation.
It remains the case that prior to any funding arrangement, the HSE will need full and complete details on the corporate governance of an organisation, such as information on the board responsible for independent oversight of the management of an organisation; and on what clinical governance structures are in place. This is particularly important for any organisation which would potentially be providing talk therapies to vulnerable people on behalf of the HSE and as a recipient of public funding.
In addition, organisations can apply to HSE Mental Health Services for national lottery grant funding through the relevant local Community Health Organisation.
Pobal also administers a number of funds on behalf of other Departments. Details of these can be found at: www.pobal.ie/
