Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the response of the Minister of State. I am aware of the development of community-based mental health services. What I am referring to is the specialised services required for those who have enduring and persistent mental illness. A Vision for Change contains a specific recommendation on this, including an outline of the provisions required, which I do not have time to put on the record. It is interesting that it recommends having between ten and 15 psychiatric nurses in each assertive outreach team, with a maximum caseload of 12 service users to one nurse. This is how difficult it is to ensure rehabilitation. It will require all staff in the mental health system who are appointed to rehabilitation and recovery services to receive training in recovery-oriented competencies and principles.

Evaluation of the service provided to the severe and enduring group of service users should incorporate quality of life measures and assess the benefit and value of those services directly to the service users and their families. The Minister of State referred to the appointment of posts and the allocation of €490 million over the past two years, and I accept that this is the case. I am very disappointed with the slow rate of recruitment to these teams but I understand the difficulties that have been experienced. The planning stage by the HSE each year has been very slow.

In the first year, recruitment did not commence until October.

I would like again to voice my disappointment that the €35 million promised for this year's budget did not materialise. I welcome the allocation of €25 million but the expectation was that €35 million would be allocated.

See this speech in context