My Commencement matter is for the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee.

The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is taking this Commencement matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, is otherwise engaged.

It is a pity that I did not know that because the purpose of my address is to give out but not to the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to whom I have never spoken previously.

That is fine. The Senator's contribution will tell me from where she is coming.

I am sure it will not be taken personally. The Senator should not worry.

I have a sense of déjà vu that I have been here before and asked the same questions. I find it a little upsetting that the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, is not here because all of the requests I have made to meet her have been completely ignored. She promised to set up a meeting, but she has not done so.

I will tell the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, in a nutshell what the problem is. I launched a project, Project 95, to address the fact that 95 children had been placed in adult psychiatric units in 2015. The traumatic effect it had on children was astounding. One can imagine how upsetting it is for a child to be placed in an ordinary ward for the treatment of physical health problem, but imagine what it must be like for him or her to be placed in an adult psychiatric ward. The Minister of State, Deputy Heln McEntee, is well aware of this issue as we have spoken at length about it on many occasions. It is no good to just highlight the issue. The media have highlighted it every single year. I have come up with a solution, yet the Minister of State continues to ignore it.

The solution is to have a collaborative working relationship between the public and private sectors. The private sector has beds available. It has psychiatric intensive care units, PICUs, for children who are in terrible distress and they are available at weekends. The public sector does not have anything available. All it would take is a series of conversations between the public and private sectors. It would reduce overnight the number of children who have to be placed in adult psychiatric units and also reduce the number of children - 2,500 - who are waiting to be seen and assessed by the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. They cannot be seen and assisted by it mainly because the services do not have the personnel available because they are overwhelmed by the numbers. The private sector could jump in on a short-term basis and carry out assessments. Most of the children do not need CAMHS; rather, they need to be redirected to somewhere like Pieta House or Barnardos or one of the other organisations.

The Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, still refuses to consider the issue. What is tragic is that she and her Department are completely ignoring the fact that there are children on the waiting list with life-threatening issues. They are either starving to death because they are anorexic or they have strong suicidal ideation. For example, there were three young people in Cork who killed themselves just before Christmas. It has been suggested that if there was an out-of-hours service availabe, they would still be alive today. Can the Minister of State imagine not only the Christmas those families experienced but also what the year ahead will be like for them?

There is another issue I want to address with the Minister of State. I wonder how much of this will get to her ears and if she will address us. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is in the Chamber listening, but will the Minister of State with responsibility for this issue listen? I publicly asked about the allocation of funding the last time she was in the Chamber. How was the money spent? There is €35 million meant to be given every year under A Vision for Change. How was the money spent last year? More importantly, in the budget the Government indicated that there was another €35 million available under A Vision for Change, but very quietly it was let out that it would happen over two years. There is €15 million available this year. As I stated to the Minister of State at the time, it will act as a stop-gap or contingency fund to meet the inadequacies of the budget, but it will not be used to provide any direct support or services. Where and how will the €15 million be allocated?

Last year I had to publicly go with the 95 Project and ask the public to be aware of the chronic and disgraceful treatment of the children of the nation. I was recently advised that I was not angry enough or that my tone was not angry enough.

I have given the Senator over a minute extra.

It is not in my personality to be angry or aggressive, but I will leave it to the public. I will go on the airwaves if the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, does not answer these questions as soon as possible.

I thank the Senator and apologise to her for the absence of the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee. I have been asked to take this matter and I am happy to do so.

In the period from 2012 to 2016, approximately €115 million was added to the Health Service Executive mental health budget, which totalled €826 million in 2016. This represents an increase of €41 million, or 5.2%, on the figure provided in 2015. A Programme for a Partnership Government gives a clear commitment to increasing the mental health budget annually, as resources allow, to expand existing services. Budget 2017 made allowance for an additional €35 million for services to be initiated in 2017. Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 service plan include youth mental health; further improvements to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and adult services; older people’s services; and a further enhanced out-of-hours response for those in need of urgent services. Recognising the time lag in new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction of these services, it is estimated that the revenue spend in 2017 associated with this increased allocation will be approximately €15 million. There will also be an additional spend of €9.5 million in mental health services associated with increased pay rates. Details of the 2017 development money spending will be finalised with the HSE in the near future in the context of the 2017 HSE mental health division’s operational plan for 2017.

For 2016 an additional €35 million in programme for Government funding was allocated for mental health services. This funding was spent on national mental health priorities as agreed between the Department of Health and the HSE and as signalled in the HSE's 2016 national service plan. Funding was issued in three parts. The first part, totalling approximately €22 million, was issued in June 2016 and used to fund such areas as homeless mental health services, service user engagement, the Jigsaw programme, the provision of additional counselling and psychology services and eating disorder posts. The second part, totalling €12 million, was issued in August 2016 and used to fund minor and capital works which addressed difficulties identified by Mental Health Commission inspectors, as well as an increase in the number of psychiatric nurse undergraduate training places. The final €1 million was allocated in December 2016 and helped to fund replacement vehicles for residential mental health units and mental health work by organisations such as Bodywhys, Áras Folláin, ADD Ireland and Focus Ireland. In cases where the HSE was unable to spend the full amount allocated to a certain area in 2016, it was reallocated to other mental health areas following sanction from the Department of Health. For example, €5 million issued for mental health services in the area of primary care was used to expand the range of small and minor capital works.

Mental health priorities for 2016 were agreed between the Department of Health and the HSE. They were published in the HSE's 2016 national service plan and in more detail in the HSE mental health division's 2016 operational plan. The breakdown of all mental health funding is available in the HSE mental health division’s operational plan which is published annually. The 2016 spend on these areas will be included in the forthcoming 2017 operational plan.

I do not mean to shoot the messenger, but I must say my eyes glazed as the Minister of State was speaking. I know that she is reading the answer given to her by the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, but I have heard it all before. It is sad that I have come to realise the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, has gone to the same school of language to which the Government and the HSE have gone. They have learned beautifully and effectively to fudge, placate and talk in circles. Every time I ask a question I hear that nonsense and it is nonsense. I am asking three very simple questions. I left my house at 7.30 a.m. to be here on time and prepared. I expected to meet the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee. As usual, I have seen the can being kicked down the street and a fudging of the real issues. I want answers to these three questions. What will the Minister of State do to prevent another 100 children from entering adult psychiatric units this year? What will she do about facilitating a meeting between the public and private sectors to erase all of these issues? How was the money spent last year and how does the Minister of State intend to spend the €15 million allocated this year? I want this said to her as soon as possible.

I thank the Senator. The matter has the heading of transparency in mental health budget allocations and whether the Minister of State will agree to disclose where resources have been allocated since October 2016. In many ways, the response outlines how the funding was spent. I assure the Senator that, on any business I take here on behalf of a Minister or a Minister of State, I personally speak to them about the questions raised. It would be wrong to think I do not do so as I personally convey the issues raised. When I take a Topical Issues matter in the Dáil, I always speak to the relevant Minister or Ministers afterwards.

I agree with the Senator on a fundamental matter. I welcome the extra funding for CAMHS as, like any other public representative, I hear from many parents with a difficulty in gaining access to CAMHS for their children. I have come across a few disturbing cases. It is welcome there is money available in that regard. The Senator mentioned her Project 95. Although I have no knowledge of it, I will enlighten myself about it afterwards. What she has said is very true and honest and I will not argue with her. It is unacceptable that children and particularly young adults are housed in an adult ward when they have serious mental issues, including eating disorders.

I will personally bring the Senator's very clear messages to the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee. I will relay to her the Senator's disappointment that she was not here and, above all, the fact that the Senator requested a meeting which not take place. I will bring these serious concerns to her.

I believe the Minister of State and thank her for what she said. Will she also relay my frustration and anger?