Press Release: Monday 12 October 2026
Minister Butler secures over €10 million to expand specialist Mental Health Services and Forensic Care
- New specialist teams for Eating Disorders (Mid-West), Dual Diagnosis (Dublin South West) and Early Intervention in Psychosis (Donegal)
- Additional clinical capacity for Adult ADHD services in response to rapidly growing demand
- Enhanced Perinatal Mental Health Services across all regional hospitals
- Continued investment in the phased opening of Ireland’s first Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit (ICRU) at the National Forensic Mental Health Service
- Total mental health funding reaches a record €1.657 billion, an increase of more than 60% since 2020
Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, has announced a major package of investment under Budget 2027 to strengthen specialist and forensic mental health services, including over €10 million in annual recurring funding for the continued rollout of National Clinical Programmes and the expansion of highly specialised community-based mental health services across the country.
The investment will support the establishment of three new specialist clinical teams, expand services experiencing significant growth in demand, and continue the development of Ireland’s national forensic mental health service.
As part of the package, Budget 2027 will provide funding for:
- A new Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Team in Donegal, a county with a rate of prevalence 50% higher than the national average
- The final Eating Disorder Team required to complete the national rollout of the Adult Eating Disorders Programme, serving the Mid-West
- A new Dual Diagnosis Team in Dublin South West (Tallaght) to support people experiencing both mental health difficulties and addiction
- Additional medical and clinical capacity within Adult ADHD services to respond to increasing referrals and demand for assessment and treatment
- Enhanced staffing for specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services, bringing each regional spoke-site team to a minimum of 2.0 whole-time equivalent clinical staff, strengthening supports for women during pregnancy and the first year following birth
The investment builds on the significant progress made in recent years under the National Clinical Programmes and further advances the Government’s commitment to providing timely, evidence-based specialist mental health care closer to home.
Importantly, Minister Butler confirmed that funding for new mental health developments and approved recruitment will remain ringfenced.
Minister Butler said:
“This investment of more than €10 million annually demonstrates my commitment to ensuring people can access specialist mental health supports when and where they need them. These programmes provide highly specialised care for people experiencing some of the most complex and challenging mental health conditions and are transforming how services are delivered across the country.”
“Budget 2027 allows us to continue that progress through new specialist teams for eating disorders, dual diagnosis and early intervention in psychosis, while also strengthening services where demand continues to grow significantly, particularly in Adult ADHD and Perinatal Mental Health.”
“I am also clear that funding provided for mental health must be used for mental health. The additional posts funded under this Budget will be ringfenced and closely monitored to ensure resources intended for mental health services are delivered and are not impacted by financial pressures elsewhere in the health service.”
The National Clinical Programmes have become a cornerstone of mental health service reform, delivering person-centred, evidence-based care through multidisciplinary specialist teams operating in communities across Ireland. The latest investment will further strengthen access to earlier intervention, reduce service gaps and ensure more people receive treatment tailored to their specific needs.
Forensic Mental Health Services
Budget 2027 will also support the next phase of development of the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) campus in Portrane, Co Dublin, through the continued phased opening of Ireland’s first Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit (ICRU).
The investment will fund the recruitment of additional staff and the opening of eight further intensive rehabilitation beds, completing the commissioning of the first of two 15-bed wards within the purpose-built 30-bed facility.
The ICRU will provide specialist secure rehabilitation services for a small number of patients whose needs are too complex to be safely managed within general psychiatric services or prison settings, representing a significant enhancement of Ireland’s forensic mental health capacity.
Minister Butler said:
“The National Forensic Mental Health Service plays a vital role in ensuring people with the most complex mental health needs receive appropriate treatment in safe, therapeutic and recovery-focused environments.”
“I am pleased to secure the next stage of funding for the Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit, which will provide an essential level of specialist care that has never previously existed in Ireland. This development will improve patient outcomes while also easing pressure across forensic, acute mental health and prison services.”
Budget 2027 increases the Mental Health allocation to €1.657 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of €108 million and an increase of more than 60% since 2020. The funding will support continued implementation of Sharing the Vision, expand specialist and crisis services, strengthen community mental health teams and deliver a record level of investment in mental health care.