Leo Varadkar has confirmed cuts to the mental health budget

It has been confirmed by Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health that some funding set aside for mental health service improvements will be distributed to other areas in the next budget. Spotted on JOE.ie, Varadkar has said that some funding will be removed from the budget, with a view to it being returned to the area of mental health in 2017. The transfer has been flagged in the HSE's service plan, and Varadkar maintains the money that was due to go towards the creation of new jobs in the Mental Health services cannot be spent this year.

This is the piece of the HSE Service Plan 2016 @campaignforleo is citing, signposting shift on mental health funding pic.twitter.com/vR7Xr3XLbj

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) April 20, 2016

According to Varadkar, the spend is now 'unrealistic' in the current climate.