The Government is being accused of failing to tackle a major staff shortage in Ireland’s mental health services.

New figures from the HSE indicate that over 2,400 more staff are needed to meet the level of care proposed in the 2006 Vision for Change mental health policy.

Despite this, the number of staff working in the HSE mental health service only increased by 39 in the first ten months of this year.

Fianna Fáil mental health spokesperson James Browne said Fine Gael is “not taking mental health seriously.”

“When you see only 34 staff hired in our mental health services between January and October this year and you see a two-and-a-half thousand staff shortage in our mental health services, it is total unacceptable,” he said.

“The Government is simply not giving our mental health service the priority it deserves and needs for patients to get the care that they desperately need.”

Deputy Browne obtained the figures from the HSE by way of a Parliamentary Question.

They reveal that the average salary of the workers required – including PRSI and non-pay costs – is €80,000. That means hiring the required workers would cost the State around €195m.

Deputy Browne said there are “extraordinary regional variations” in mental health staffing levels.

“This does not strike me as evidence of good workforce planning,” he said.

“The figures are clear proof that Fine Gael is not taking mental health seriously and Budget 2020 did nothing to address this shortfall.

“An updated Vision for Change policy is expected soon and I would be greatly concerned that this government of excuses will simply give up the ghost on the ambition set out in the original policy.”

There are currently 9,932 Whole Time Equivalents working in the HSEs Mental Health Division.

Taking the country’s increasing population into consideration, some 12,354 would be needed to meet the recommendations of A Vision for Change.