MINISTER Mary Butler has said she is disappointed her budget for 2024 will not go far enough in terms of funding new development and services.

The Minister, who was responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, was on 'Deise Today' this morning (Monday) where she spoke to Damien about her department's budget of 1.3 billion.

She said it does represent an increase on the budget she had last year but the majority of this year's funding was given for existing services and medical inflation, not new development funding.

Yesterday (Sunday) was International Men's Day and Mary Butler also spoke about the issue mental health and particularly when it comes to men and the stark numbers of men who die by suicide in Ireland each year.

Damien also asked her about a concerning story in the 'Sunday Independent' yesterday regarding a psychiatrist attached to the HSE's Cahms service (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) who has been charged with a number of very serious sexual offences against a girl.

You can listen back to the interview with the Minister by clicking on the image above...