Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for coming to the House for this debate. It is great to have in the House the Minister with direct responsibility for this matter. I raise this issue alongside my colleagues, Deputies Robert Troy and Maureen O'Sullivan, two co-convenors of the cross-party Oireachtas group on mental health. Deputy Ó Caoláin, whose name is also associated with this Topical Issue matter, has asked us to place on record his regret that he cannot be present as he is attending an all-day meeting at Stormont. He wishes to be strongly associated with the matter raised. The other convenor of the cross-party group is Senator Susan O'Keeffe, who is, obviously, a Member of the other House.

That members of all political groupings in both Houses have come together on this issue demonstrates the importance parliamentarians attach to mental health. We are unique in being the only cross-party group with representatives of all political groupings in the Oireachtas which has drawn up and presented to Government a pre-budget submission. The group is pleased with the Government's commitment to provide €35 million in the previous budget for community mental health services.

The cross-party group seeks to achieve three outcomes from this Topical Debate. First, we wish to obtain an update on the status of the €35 million committed in the budget for community mental health services. Second, we wish to obtain from the Minister of State an update on the appointment of a director of mental health. Third, we seek a commitment on the ring-fencing of staff for community mental health teams.

All those involved in politics and society generally are used to mental health being treated as the poor relation of the health service. In the past, money allocated to mental health was siphoned off into different areas of the health service as the year proceeded. While this is clearly not the intention of the Minister, Government or House, we need an assurance that this practice will not occur this year and the commitments provided will be met.

Community-based mental health services are at the core of A Vision of Change. This strategy recommends shifting care from mental health institutions to the community and envisaged specialist services operated by staff with particular expertise in supporting a person's mental health. It seeks to bring together a holistic range of support and staff from a range of specialist disciplines, including clinical psychology, mental health nursing, occupational therapy, psychiatry and social work. There is no doubt that community-based mental health services are the correct approach. There is now a political consensus and compelling economic argument for this model. The Health Service Executive, for example, recently launched a report which showed that the community model of mental health services is the best way to achieve a good quality and cost-effective service. In addition to being the right approach, it is also cost effective.

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