Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
474. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on the potential widening of inequalities in access to mental health services between rural counties such as Mayo and urban centres; and the steps she will take to ensure equitable access to timely mental health supports across all regions. [50494/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister my commitment to enhancing mental health services is demonstrated by funding having increased by over 50% since I came into this Office.
The most recent Budget continued this trend, with the total allocation for mental health services for 2026 to almost €1.6 billion. The major focus was on improving support for people in mental health crisis both in hospitals and in the community through an additional €15m for crisis supports and suicide prevention.
Significant and much needed investment, alongside the unwavering and steadfast work of our staff are underpinning the successful implementation of Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life and making a real difference to everyone using our services.
This includes ensuring as a priority the equitable distribution of mental health services to meet the needs of people who need to access services at a national level.
You will see this vision and the Department's action plan in Ireland's new Strategy to reduce suicide and self harm, which was launched by Minister Butler on May 27th: [www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/irelands-strategy-to-reduce-suicide-and-self-harm-connecting-for-life-20262035/]
Domain 3 of this Strategy centres on implementing effective responses for people in suicidal distress or with experience of self-harm. Updates on the Strategy's implementation will be available at the above web address.
I am also outlining below for your information the following:
• Rollout of counselling supports/ talk therapies.
• Mental Health crisis supports
Crisis mental health supports, including those with 24/7 coverage, are currently provided across a number of settings and services, including hospital based services, out of hours services such as CAMHS on call, and non-governmental organisation services such as crisis phone and text supports, funded by HSE Mental Health Services.
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone (2020-2030) is currently overseeing a piece of work by the HSE Implementation Group to bring together the range of available out-of-hours and crisis services and supports, with a view to aligning and streamlining supports and identifying any potential gaps in service provision. It is envisaged that this work will form the basis of an Adult Crisis Response Framework. This project is currently in an advanced state of preparation and is expected to be initiated formally before end-2026.
In addition, as Minister, I have overseen the rollout of a range of out of hours supports for people experiencing mental health difficulties as alternatives to Emergency Departments.
Crisis Resolution Services
The model of care for Crisis Resolution Services was developed as a direct recommendation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. It recognises that people who are experiencing a mental health crisis need specialist services to provide timely brief intensive supports to keep people safe.
• Crisis Resolution Teams: These comprise of teams of mental health professionals who work out of hours to meet people in a crisis and provide rapid assessment and intensive intervention. There are 6 pilot Crisis Resolution Teams currently operational in Galway, Sligo/Leitrim, Cork city (two teams), Waterford City and County, South Dublin/Wicklow. The Limerick Crisis Resolution Team is due to commence operations this year.
• Crisis Cafés: Solace Cafes provide a welcoming, non-clinical safe environment in the style of a café where people can go at evenings and weekends. The Cafés provides a range of support for those who needed to use its services including crisis support, signposting, peer support, and community support. The Cafes are now open in Cork City, South Dublin and Sligo and Waterford. An additional Solace Café has opened this year in Limerick.
Additional funding has been provided for more Crisis Resolution Teams and Solace Cafes in Budget 2026, for Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands (Tullamore/Westmeath).
Further rollout of Crisis Resolution Services will focus on areas without such services to date, subject to future Estimates processes.
Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Service
The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is critically important safety net for people in suicidal crisis and the Minister fully supports the intention within the second Sharing the Vision implementation plan to expand these services to provide full coverage nationwide. These services provide a timely response to requests for assessment of patients in suicidal crisis from GPs, and the assessments often take place in primary care settings.
The SCAN service was originally developed under the National Clinical Programme for Self-harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHI) which was introduced in Irish public hospital emergency departments in 2014. Primarily delivered by clinical nurse specialists with support from a consultant psychiatrist in each hospital area, the programme supports people presenting with suicidal ideation as well as self-harm.
The model of care for the service envisages a dedicated mental health assessment room within hospitals to provide a more appropriate environment for assessments to take place. Even when the full network of alternative Crisis Resolution Services is in place, we know people in distress will still present to emergency departments for support. Given most acute mental health in-patient units are co-located with our acute hospital network, it’s important people in distress are assessed in clinically appropriate environments when they present for support. I have allocated funding for the recruitment of 12 additional SCAN nurses in 2026, with a focus on counties and areas that have not had such posts to date.
Specialist Crisis Nurses in hospitals
Under funding which I allocated in Budget 2026, the HSE will establish specialist nursing teams in the emergency departments of all Model 4 hospitals out-of-hours, made up of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists to support people in crisis. By placing specialist nursing teams in our emergency departments out-of-hours, coupled with the expansion of community alternatives such as crisis resolution teams and crisis cafes, we are fundamentally changing how we respond to the needs of people in distress.
The HSE have commenced planning for further rollout to Model 3 settings, subject to future Estimates processes.
Counselling Supports/ Talk Therapies
The National Counselling Service provides free counselling therapy to adults who experienced childhood abuse or neglect, are former residents of a mother and baby home. They also provide counselling to those with medical cards, through the Counselling in Primary Care service (CiPC).
As Minister, I announced €2 million in funding in 2025 to provide access to a suite of new talk therapies and counselling supports specifically tailored for men. Access to the services began from September 2025.
This initiative is embedded within Ireland’s approach to mental health policy implementation. Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy for suicide prevention, clearly state that talk therapies should be considered a first-line treatment option for most people who experience mental health difficulties.
The funding is targeted at assisting with stigma reduction and to actively encourage men who otherwise would not usually avail of counselling to seek help with their mental health, to assist men in accessing mental health services, and to provide much-needed support for men experiencing a mental health crisis.
Recent HSE data indicates from the period of Q3 2025 to Q2 2026, there has been over 2,000 referrals to this counselling service for men.
In the most recent Budget, funding was provided by myself as Minister for a new talking therapies fund for providing Community Therapy Services.
Finally, in relation to the National Clinical Programmes, targeted investment has ensured the rollout of specialist mental health services on an equitable basis nationally to meet the needs of people accessing these services. This include Clinical Programmes such as eating disorders, and ADHD which I have fully funded as Minister the total number of Teams in the Model of Care to ensure the operationalisation of those teams as soon as possible nationally.
