Ep:139 Panel Talk: Government Spending.

In this first panel of the Higher Conversations Ireland series, we examine one of the most urgent questions facing the country: If mental health funding is at an all-time high, why are outcomes not improving? In 2024, Ireland allocated €1.3 billion to mental health services — the highest figure ever at the time. That has now risen to €1.6 billion for 2026. Yet an internal HSE report suggests the country may be short up to 1,800 psychiatric beds nationwide. Waiting lists remain long, especially for young people. So where is the money going? Is this a structural failure? Or has Ireland built a system that sustains crisis rather than resolves it? Panel Guests: Rob Carry Elaine Mullally Ian Neary Key Questions Discussed: 🔹 Has Ireland developed a “mental health complex” — where institutions benefit from crisis rather than improved outcomes? 🔹 If spending continues to rise but results don’t improve, where is accountability breaking down? 🔹 Are young people suffering from a loss of agency and belief in their future in Ireland? 🔹 Is Ireland’s low investment in community sport and youth activity contributing to declining mental health? 🔹 Why does Ireland rank among the loneliest countries in Europe for young people — and how do we reverse it? 🔹 What single change could make the biggest difference to mental health outcomes in this country?