‘Mental health funding misleading’

The Government has been accused of “deliberately misleading” the public on the mental health funding announced in Budget 2018.

An ‘additional’ €35m was announced for mental health services in 2018, however, opposition parties have pointed out that this figure includes €20m detailed in the 2017 budget. This means there will only be an additional €15m in spending for 2018.

Junior Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly insisted the entire €35m is an increase but that part of it had been flagged in 2017 in order to assist the HSE in future planning.