‘Cuts will fuel long-term social issues’

CUTTING €35 million promised to the mental health budget will mean service reforms are “dead in the water”, experts warned.

Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International, said a slash and burn approach to mental health will only fuel long-term social problems. “During the election this year, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny singled out mental health as the key social justice issue he wanted to tackle. His commitment and the strong focus on mental health in the Programme for Government will be lost and meaningless if these cuts are implemented.”

Head of Mental Health Reform Orla Barry said withdrawing the funding would put much needed modernisation of the mental health services at risk. “If the €35m is cut, we are going to go backwards.”