Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, for their not being in the House to respond to this important issue raised by Deputy O'Sullivan.

In line with the agreed programme for Government, the Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community, as envisaged in A Vision for Change. Deputy O'Sullivan referred to the 1984 document, which I recall because I was a student at that time and did a special report on it. That report focused on the move to a community model. I recall distinctly well the context of the report at that stage. Implementation of the recommendations of the report has been slower than originally expected owing to a number of factors, including the changed economic context, constraints on public expenditure and the moratorium on recruitment. However, with regard to residential services, a great deal of progress has been made with the accelerated closure of old psychiatric hospitals and their replacement with bespoke new facilities such as the Phoenix Care Centre which was recently opened in St. Brendan's, Grangegorman. Beyond new capital developments, progress also encompasses shorter episodes of inpatient care and involvement of users in all relevant aspects of mental health policy and services. One of the most fundamental changes in recent years, as the Deputy will be aware, has been that people within the mental health service now have advocates who argue for their requirements, in terms of services, locally. This is happening across mental health service provision in this country and has given an additional voice to people who need help.

A Vision for Change recommended that a modern mental health service is best delivered in the community. The Deputy will be aware that a special allocation of €35 million was provided in 2012 for mental health services to strengthen community mental health teams in adult and children's mental health services; provide an additional 414 full-time posts to enhance suicide prevention measures; initiate psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems; and advance relocation of mental health service users from institutional care to independent living arrangements. Full utilisation of the 2012 funding, together with a further €35 million for the new service put in place for 2013, represents an extra €70 million, with more than 800 associated mental health posts to improve and reform services. Recruitment of 307 of the additional 410 posts approved in 2012 has been completed. The HSE aims to fill the remaining posts by end March 2013. I hope to be able to report progress in this regard over the next few weeks.

Under the national implementation framework for the National Housing Strategy 2011-2016 for people with a disability and mental health issues, initial funding of €1 million has been made available by the Department to support the commencement in 2013 of the transitioning of people from existing settings to independent mainstream options. The renewed investment in mental health also facilitates the full implementation of the clinical programmes in this area and will drive service delivery and consistency, with a major emphasis on early intervention and improved collaborations within the primary care system to ensure the provision of a 21st century mental health service in Ireland. Ireland has a strong human rights record. The protection of such rights is central to our domestic and foreign policies. The practical fulfilment of this objective is of paramount importance, including proper reflection in evolving policies and settings across a wide range of our health and personal social services.

Deputy O'Sullivan referred to the most recent report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Mendez. There are significant findings in that report in terms of the setting that is now chosen for the majority of people in this country with mental health issues. I understand that the Department is studying the report in detail and will issue its considered view on it in due course.

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