Labour call for greater mental health budget

Harry McGee, Political Editor

Unveiling a major policy document on mental health yesterday, the party’s deputy leader, Liz McManus, berated the lack of priority being given to what she described as the “Cinderella of the Irish health system”.

She said she was disturbed that the proportion of the total health budget spent on mental health had fallen steadily over the past 15 years: from 13% in 1988; to 11% in 1997; and to the current level of 6.8%.