Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I spoke about the importance of compliance and I certainly accept what the Deputy says about it. I did not mean to suggest in any way that the issues of the other centres which have not met full compliance were in any way insignificant. The point I made is that the potential for full compliance is certainly there. That is what the Minister of State will be pursuing with respect to the points made in that report. I have no doubt she will be addressing the range of recommendations in the report, including the question of monitoring. I do not have a specific date but I have no doubt it will be an important part of her consideration with regard to the implementation of the recommendations.

A full policy review in the area has been announced by the Minister of State, which is important. Everybody accepts there have been major changes in how we deal with mental health in this country. I am thankful that the stigma that was there has certainly changed, and I notice this very much among young people. We know issues remain and we need a more concerted effort across all society to ensure people get the kind of help they need with mental health difficulties at an early stage. The help, in the first instance, should be in the community, with inpatient facilities as needed.

There is a full chapter in the programme for Government on mental health and commitments on a variety of issues that have come to people's attention in recent years, including access to a GP and other mental health services in primary care, which is extremely important. A Vision for Change was accepted very much as a roadmap to improved mental health services. We now have the funding, which had, unfortunately, decreased at a time when there was little choice in the matter because of the cycle of boom and bust economy. I am thankful we are now in a position to reinvest in the area, and the Government has demonstrated its commitment to investment in the health services with the announcement of €500 million in extra funding just two weeks ago.

A proportion of that is for mental health services. There is also a commitment in the programme for Government to review this annually and to have increased investment in mental health services. The issues Deputy Connolly has raised will get the attention they deserve and I have no doubt that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, will be making a statement on the report.

See this speech in context