Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I will take this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Deputy Ring for raising this matter on today's Adjournment and for giving me the opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to mental health.

The document, A Vision for Change, represents our action plan for the development of a quality mental health service. The estimated additional cost of implementation is €150 million, that is, €21.6 million per year over seven years, or €15 million per year over ten years. The report is clear that new funding should follow implementation, and in this regard a total of €51.2 million has been allocated since 2006. Thus, in the first two years of a seven to ten year implementation period, one third of the overall requirement has already been allocated.

The development of our mental health service is not solely dependent on extra funding. The substantial existing resources within the mental health service must be remodelled and reallocated, and only then can we deliver a modern and efficient service. It is necessary, in the context of the ever-increasing demands for health resources, that health expenditure be closely monitored to ensure that 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 the funds allocated for mental health services are efficiently used and that the substantial changes in the organisation and delivery of services envisaged in A Vision for Change are developed in a timely and appropriate fashion.

Owing to competing expenditure pressures and the overriding obligation to live within the approved overall allocation, some of the planned developments in mental health services in 2006 and 2007 were delayed. While this is disappointing, I note that some of these developments will proceed in 2008. I am also confident that there is scope within the HSE's overall allocation to deliver further service enhancements in 2008, over and above those outlined in its service plan, through improved performance, productivity and the realignment of existing resources.

The unprecedented investment in mental health services, which has trebled since 1997, has allowed for real improvements in this area. There is now a much greater focus on community services and the provision of multidisciplinary teams, early intervention and many other services. This modernisation and reform of services is in line with what patients want and need. It is real progress and we are determined to build on this reality. We are not yet where we want to be, but we are getting there. Each person receiving mental health care now has an individualised care plan, designed in consultation with the person and his or her therapeutic team. This care plan, which may or may not include complementary therapies, identifies the person's needs and another plan is then agreed to meet these needs.

The delivery of health services was assigned to the HSE under the Health Act 2004. In view of the budgetary situation, it was necessary to review the provision of complementary therapies in Mayo. In some instances where the therapies were not considered essential, they were reduced. I have been assured that each individual case is being closely monitored and will be reviewed in the event of a negative impact on the patient being clinically identified.

The Government's decision to establish the Office for Disability and Mental Health reflects its ongoing 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 will facilitate cross-agency and cross-departmental work to deliver real benefits to clients and service users in 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 the implementation of agreed targets.

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