Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

Under the Health Act 2004, the HSE is obliged to operate within its overall Vote. In this regard, it took steps to ensure that it met this objective in 2007 by delaying some of its planned developments, including developments in mental health.

However, I understand from the HSE that some of the mental health services funded in 2006 and 2007 will be put in place in 2008. These include the provision of eight additional consultant child psychiatry teams; the provision of 18 additional beds for children and adolescents at St. Anne's, Galway, St. Vincent's, Fairview, and St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork, to increase the bed complement from the current provision of 12 to 30 during 2008; and the construction of two 20-bed units for children and adolescents in Cork and Galway. Construction on these units is expected to commence in 2008 and be completed in 2009.

A Vision for Change is clear that new funding should follow implementation. The estimated additional cost of the implementation of A Vision for Change is €150 million over a seven to ten-year period. A total of €51.2 million has already been allocated since 2006, which represents over a third of the overall requirement.

There are substantial resources already invested in mental health. In addition to the extra funding required to finance A Vision for Change, existing resources need to be remodelled and reallocated. Implementation of A Vision for Change is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources than on new additional funding. Additional investment must be phased in parallel with the reorganisation of mental health services and resources. In view of the significant additional investment in 2006 and 2007, it is entirely appropriate to pause and review the issue to ensure consolidation of the investment to date.

In the context of ever-rising demands for health resources, mental health expenditure should be closely monitored to ensure services demonstrate both effectiveness and efficiency. Before any further additional funding is provided, it is essential the HSE is in a position to demonstrate that money allocated for mental health services is efficiently used and that the substantial changes in the organisation and delivery of mental health services envisaged in A Vision for Change are progressed.

The newly established Office for Disability and Mental Health has a remit to drive the implementation of the recommendations of A Vision for Change and I will be meeting the HSE shortly to discuss what measures can be taken with immediate effect to ensure progress in this regard.

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