Mental health funding transparency
Senator Freeman sought a debate with the Minister for Health on the apparent cut from the promised mental health allocation and the lack of clarity on where the money would go. Senator Devine supported the concern.
I would like to move a motion calling on the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Health to come into the Seanad to enable us ask him two important questions. The first is why is there such dishonesty and lack of transparency over what moneys have been allocated to mental health services? We were told €35 million would be allocated but only €15 million will be allocated for 2017.
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Why is there such dishonesty about that? Second, why is it that a month after the budget was announced we still do not know how and into what areas this money will be allocated? Why is it that only the mental health services receive this treatment? It makes me wonder whether it is because having this lack of transparency means the Government can move the money around when it suits it to whatever Department suits it instead of it being honest about where this money should be going. I call on the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Health to attend here at his earliest convenience.