Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

However, 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 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 that 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.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive is obliged to operate within its overall Vote. It took steps to meet this objective in 2007 by delaying some of its planned developments, including developments in mental health services. Some of these developments will proceed 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.

An independent monitoring group was established to monitor and assess progress in implementing the recommendations set out in A Vision for Change. The monitoring group's first annual report was published in May 2007. The report acknowledges the progress made but expressed concern about the lack of a systematic approach to implementation of the report and the lack of clarity in responsibility for implementation in the HSE.

The Government's decision to establish the Office for Disability and Mental Health reflects its commitment to developing a more coherent and integrated response to the needs of people with disabilities and mental health problems. The office will support the Minister of State with responsibility for disability and mental health and facilitate cross-agency and cross-departmental work and deliver real benefits to clients and service users into the future. It will bring a new impetus to the implementation of A Vision for Change working in partnership with the HSE and other stakeholders to achieve implementation of agreed targets.

The Health Service Executive recently approved its implementation plan which sets out six key priorities for 2008 and 2009. Following concerns raised by the Office for Disability and Mental Health regarding the need for a longer-term focus, the HSE has undertaken to prepare a more comprehensive plan before the end of this year.

I assure the House of the Government's commitment to the development of mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change.

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