Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy quite rightly said, we have a new mental health policy called Sharing the Vision. It is a mental health policy for everyone. We must remember that is a ten-year policy that needs a whole-of-Government approach. It does not relate just to the Department of Health. There has to be a cross-sector approach relating to housing and social protection supports. What I like about this policy is that it envisages a mental health system that addresses the needs of the population through a focus on the requirements of the individual. The most important thing in this policy is service delivery. We will establish a national implementation and monitoring committee to oversee its progress, meaning that there will be oversight. The terms of reference for the monitoring committee are currently being drawn up and will come to Cabinet in September. We are looking at an independent chair with various subgroups and different terms of reference.

I will answer the questions about suicide and 24 hour crisis intervention in writing. Much good work has been done during Covid with the move to online services and e-health. Jigsaw was able to move many of its supports online during this time because of all the challenges. I know face-to-face engagement can never be replaced but when we had various challenges relating to Covid, online services worked well and we could maintain many supports.

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