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€10 million Covid mental health fund announced in February is lying unspent, committee hears

Written by SilverCloud® by Amwell® | Sep 22, 2021 4:26:00 PM

(Source:  https://www.independent.ie/) A €10m fund announced in February last to tackle the mental health impacts of Covid-19 is still lying unspent, it emerged today.

Ber Grogan of Mental Health Reform told TDs and Senators that despite the rising mental health needs triggered by the pandemic it is still to be rolled out.

She said the funding must be ring-fenced and the proposed initiatives it promised in place by the end of this year.

All announcements in Budget 2022 should be surplus to the €10m, she told the Oireachtas health committee.

The Government needs to increase spending on mental health to 10pc of the total health budget.

The World Health Organisation recommends 12pc, and Sláintecare 10pc, while the UK spends nearly 13pc of its health budget on mental health.

 

Read more https://www.independent.ie/