THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH James Reilly said that the majority of the mental health staffing posts promised for 2012 have been filled.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, he said that of the 414 posts promised last year, 397 have been filled or are awaiting clearance.

He said that 477 posts were promised for 2013, and as of the 26 August, 220 posts have been accepted, 24 have been offered to candidates and of the 233 remaining, 162 are in the final stages of the recruitment process.

The minister was answering questions from Fine Gael TD for Wicklow Simon Harris and Independent TD for Dublin Central Maureen O’Sullivan.

He said that the €35 million had been dedicated to mental health services in 2012 and a further €35 million was given in 2013.

Full amount was spent

Maureen O’Sullivan questioned if the full €35 million had been spent and where the money had been distributed. Minister Reilly said it was his understanding that the full €35 million was spent on mental health.

Earlier this month, the Mental Health Reform group said they were concerned that the July HSE Staffing Census shows the net increase in staff between December 2012 and July 2013 was just 192 and questioned if the €35 million was being ring-fenced for mental health services.

Speaking in the Dáil, Simon Harris said there was “no room for complacency” when it came to mental health services in Ireland, adding that there was “a need to ensure that the money is spent effectively”.

Harris also questioned how many patients had been transferred from remedial care to community care plans, for which the minster said he would revert the question to Minister Kathleen Lynch adding that he would also be interested in knowing the exact figures.

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