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Fianna Fail has demanded an “urgent review” of the mental health budget after the Government said it intends spending just €15 million in 2017, instead of the agreed €35.4million.

The party’s mental health spokesman, James Browne, said FF is pushing for “a significant increase in funding and spending for mental health services”.

He said his party were determined to pursue the plan for mental health services outlined in the ‘Vision for Change’ policy document.

He said: “Fianna Fáil is calling on the Government to set out how exactly it intends on achieving full implementation of the country’s mental health strategy.

“We have made it clear that mental health spending can’t be put on the backburner, so it’s time for Fine Gael and their Independent colleagues to spell out their plan for mental health services.

“One key measure which we want to see is the introduction of a multi-annual plan for the development of mental health services.

“Currently the Government allocates funding to mental health on a year to year basis. This is preventing long term planning and development from taking place.

“Instead there should be a multi-annual plan so that our mental health services can be developed with certainty.”

Mr Browne said he was calling for the debate because policy on the issue has been “consistently left behind.”

He said: We know that in terms of international standards and in terms of what we were spending previously in this country on mental health, it has always been left to the side.

“We’ve seen significant delays in all aspects of mental health. Under the Vision for Change for example, there was only 53% of staffing levels needed.”

He added that parents across the country were experiencing delays of between 18 and 22 months before their children were given any form of assessment.

He also said there were real difficulties in attracting to psychiatric nurses to the system “because they’re so underfunded and because they’re so unsupported.”

Mr Browne noted that he had some indications that the government will support the motion.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform Dara Calleary warned that any agreements on public sector pay must not impact on services such as mental health.