A junior minister has defended a 15 million euro cut in funding for mental health.

Kathleen Lynch has also admitted that she doesn't have enough staff to tackle the issue of mental health - but says she can continue to deliver services.

35 million euro a year had been ring-fenced by government over a five year period to deliver mental health services - only 20 million has been made available for 2014.

Minister Lynch says she thinks most people will understand the cut: