450. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health her plans to continue supporting and providing funding for the continuation of the Traveller counselling services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23110/26]

451. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if she will support the expansion of culturally appropriate counselling services with members of the Traveller community as therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23111/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.

I have provided funding in successive budgets to increase counselling services for the Traveller Community. In Budget 2023, the Dept of Health allocated an additional €1.3 million to the HSE to commence the implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan, with €300k of this being specifically allocated for Traveller mental health. Two new primary healthcare for Traveller projects were established and staff in other projects were offered an uplift.

Traveller Counselling Service

With regards to Budget 2024, the Department allocated additional non-core funding to expand the Traveller Counselling Service, in line with action 27 in the Traveller Health Action Plan and action 2.3.3 in Connecting for Life. This targeted measure demonstrates the joined-up approach to Traveller health between mental health and inclusion health policy units in the Department. Members of the Traveller community work as therapists in the Traveller Counselling Service.

In Budget 2025, significant additional ring-fenced funding of €365,000 was secured for Traveller mental health initiatives. In addition, funding of €200,000 for the National Traveller Counselling service which was allocated on a once-off basis for 2024, was mainstreamed under Budget 2025, bringing the total funding for Traveller mental health to €565,000. This will build on previous years to expand the National Traveller Counselling Service to also provide services to young Travellers, ensuring that this culturally inclusive counselling service receives the support that it needs.

Budget 2026 provides for an additional €480,000 for several Traveller specific suicide prevention initiatives which have been co-designed with the Traveller Community.

To the extent that this question relates to services, I have referred this question to them for direct reply.