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Press release

Minister Butler convenes new cross government group to coordinate Mental Health Policy

A major step toward integrated mental health policy has been taken as Minister for Mental Health and Government Chief Whip, Mary Butler convened the inaugural meeting of a newly formed ‘Interdepartmental Steering Group for Mental Health’.

The meeting brought together representatives from 14 government departments, along with the HSE, Mental Health Commission and the OPW. The session was chaired by Siobhán McArdle, Assistant Secretary for Social Care, Mental Health, and Unscheduled Care at the Department of Health.

The Steering Group has been established to enhance cross-government collaboration on mental health and to ensure that mental health considerations are embedded across all areas of public policy. The initiative aligns closely with Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, Ireland’s national mental health strategy, which calls for coordinated action across sectors such as housing, education, and social protection.

In addition to supporting the implementation of Sharing the Vision, the Group is expected to play a key role in shaping two forthcoming national policy initiatives: the development of the successor to the suicide reduction strategy Connecting for Life, and the implementation of the mental health promotion plan Pathways to Wellbeing.

Minister Butler said:

“We all know that there is no health without mental health – and making progress is not just for the Department of Health or the government - it’s a whole-of-society issue. I am confident that by bringing together all arms of government, we can ensure that mental wellbeing is considered in every policy, from transport to education, from employment to social protection. This new Steering Group marks a significant step towards building a more coordinated, compassionate, and effective approach to mental health for everyone in Ireland.”

During the meeting, attendees received detailed presentations on each of these policies and engaged in discussions on how best to integrate mental health as a strategic priority within their respective departments. The Group also finalised and agreed upon its Terms of Reference, setting the groundwork for future collaboration.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place in November 2025.

PR Photo Committee
Photo: Interdepartmental Steering Group for Mental Health, Department of Health, 1st July 2025

Name

Department

Siobhán McArdle

Department of Health (Chair)

Siobhán Hargis

Department of Health (Mental Health Unit)

Philip Dodd

Department of Health (Deputy Chief Medical Officer)

John Farrelly

Mental Health Commission

Claire O’Reilly

Agriculture, Food and Marine

Ronan Mulhall

Education and Youth

Fiona Kilcullen

Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Mary Doyle

Finance

Sinéad Mahon

Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science

Mary O'Regan

Justice

Niamh O’Reilly

Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

Deirdre Kelly

Rural and Community Development

Lorraine Danaher

Social Protection

Emma Sambrooks

Taoiseach

Michelle Ruddy

Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Eoin Keehan

Transport

Peter Collins

OPW

Aleisha Clarke

HSE

Ronan Mulhall

Defence

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