Spending on mental health cut by 1.8%

MENTAL health and disability spending will be cut by a maximum of 1.8% in what has been described by health minister of state John Moloney as “special consideration for the two sectors”.

Under the terms of the budget, an additional €10 million in funding is being provided to the HSE for disability in 2011 to meet extra demand in respect of emergency residential, respite and home support hours.

Additionally, there’s further provision for expenditure of up to €15m on priority mental health projects. They will be funded from receipts of the disposal of surplus mental health properties.

The minister also welcomed an additional €1m provided for suicide prevention. This funding will ensure that helpline supports for those in emotional distress are coordinated and widely publicised, improve the response to deliberate self-harm and develop the capacity of primary care to respond to suicidal behaviour and consider new models of response.

However, Inclusion Ireland criticised the budget saying people with a disability have been “hit as an easy target” as the disability allowance has again been cut — down €847.60 a year since 2008.

A spokesperson for Inclusion Ireland described it as an attack on the direct living standards and the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families. The €8 weekly cut to disability allowance announced comes on top of an €8.30 cut last year, amounting to €16.30 a week in just two years — from €204.30 in 2008 to €188.

Carers Allowance is also down, with cuts of €16.50 per week on the 2008 rate, down from €220.50 a week in 2008 to the rate of €204 announced yesterday.

Meanwhile, the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) expressed disappointment at the announcement to cut the blind pension and disability allowance.

This is on top of a reduction to the blind person’s tax credit of €180. The supplementary allowance payable to blind persons in receipt of a blind pension has been also reduced from €61 to €58.50.

NCBI chief executive Des Kenny said these cuts have a profound impact on the most vulnerable.