The percentage of the overall health budget allocated to mental health services has fallen by 1% despite growing demand for such services at every level, according to the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).
Speaking at the PNA's conference which is taking place online, General Secretary Peter Hughes described the reduction as "outrageous", saying it highlighted the lack of understanding among politicians of the inadequacy of current services, and the mounting demand for services.
He said the health budget was now €20 billion, including the additional €4 billion allocated for 2021. Mr Hughes said:"Of this, mental health has a budget allocation of €1 billion which now means that the mental health budget has been reduced from just over 6% to