Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

There are four areas in the country where, with the co-operation of the voluntary service users and the professionals involved, we have managed to roll out what is considered the model in regard to mental health services, namely, high-support hostels, day hostels and community-based mental health teams. In the areas I have looked at where this has been done the service is extraordinary. It serves both the service user and the professionals who work within it. It has changed the view of all as to how the service is delivered; the professionals, the community and the service users. That is what we want for all areas and that is what the €35 million is about. It is about ensuring that the posts we do not have at present, those we are missing from the teams, are put in place in order that people can stay well within their own communities.

The Deputy is right. Closing down units where people are supported within their own community is not what A Vision for Change is about. That programme is about maintaining people in their own community and ensuring they stay well within that community. The last thing we want is to have ongoing admissions to acute units. In Wexford, south Kilkenny and Waterford, a vast area, the admission rate to the acute unit has been cut by 50%. People are getting an extraordinary service in the area and that is what we want everywhere. With the additional money and the plan that is in place one hopes we will also have that service in areas such as Ballina and throughout County Mayo.

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