Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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9. To ask the Minister for Health further to Question No. 468 of 20 September 2017, if he will clarify the proposal to locate the community mental health team base at a site at Dangan, Galway; the status of the proposal; the timeframe for the opening and operation of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40768/17]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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What is the status of the proposal to locate the community mental health team base at a site at Dangan, Galway? I understand from a local radio interview that it will now not proceed. I hope the Minister of State can tell me that is not correct. What is the status of that given the commitment under A Vision for Change?

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As stated in the reply to the previous question from the Deputy, community mental health teams will, over the medium to long term, be co-located with other services in primary care centres in their catchment areas. In the interim, while such facilities are being developed, several other options are being considered by the HSE locally.

In accordance with national policy set out in A Vision for Change, community-based teams have been established to provide outreach and outpatient services across the local community health-care organisation area. Two teams, covering Galway city and the Connemara region, are currently located within the adult acute mental health unit in University Hospital Galway, and they provide outpatient services. Outreach clinics are also provided in rural locations within their sectors.

Also, in accordance with the national policy, community mental health teams can be co-located with other services in primary care centres in their catchment areas. In Galway city, there is a primary care facility planned for Shantalla in the medium to long term. It is expected that the community mental health team for mental health services in the city will be based there. While primary care centres continue to be rolled out across the community health care organisation, CHO, area, an appropriate site to house community mental health teams in the west of the county has not yet been identified. While the development of these primary care centres is being progressed, several other options for the location of outpatient services and community mental health teams continue to be explored by the executive.

Decisions on such matters by the HSE may involve negotiations and commercial sensitivity and are a matter for the executive to conclude so as to achieve the best outcome possible. I will ask that the HSE locally update the Deputy when it is in a position to do so.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for the attempted answer. I am disappointed. I asked a very specific question on a specific site in Dangan in Galway. If the local official is able to say on radio yesterday that it is gone, surely the Minister of State knows. I ask him to give me an update on whether that site is gone and is no longer viable.

The bigger point is that an integral part of A Vision for Change, originally for 2006 to 2016 and now reviewed, is the community mental health team. In Galway city, Connemara and the islands - with approximately 100,000 people - we do not have a single community mental health team base out in the community. That is extraordinary. Galway will become the European Capital of Culture in 2020. It has two third level institutions and three hospitals, two private, but no community mental health team base. How can the Minister of State stand over that? I know he will say it comes back to the HSE.

What role does the Government have in ensuring that HSE west carries out its duty and will the Government provide sufficient funding for it to do that?

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As Deputy Connolly said, this is a matter for the HSE. As she will appreciate, I will not get involved in site-specific negotiations and issues such as that because it is not my role or function as a Minister of State. That is the role of the executive. I will travel to Galway on Monday and I will visit a number of sites. It is something I can raise with the HSE. From the reply, it seems to be a question of the medium to long term. It does not seem to be something that will be addressed in the short term. I can pursue further information from the HSE if Deputy Connolly wishes but that is the information I have been given and that is all I am in a position to confirm here today.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I understand that to a certain extent in the context of the specific aspect of the question but under A Vision for Change, going back to 2006 - and prior to that back to 1984 when there was another plan and patients were moved out of psychiatric buildings - can the Government stand over the fact that not a single community mental health team has been rolled out in Galway city, Connemara or the islands for a population of approximately 100,000? I know the Minister of State might not be able to answer a question on a specific site but I am disappointed that the HSE has not clarified that in view of the fact that I took the trouble of tabling a question prior to this and have raised the matter again today. Can the Government stand over the fact that there is not one community mental health team in Galway city or the west of the county? That is my third time to repeat it because it is so shocking.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I cannot comment on the specifics of Galway but, as I said, I will visit the county on Monday. I will visit some of the facilities there and I will have a chance to get a first-hand view of what happening. I cannot comment on the availability of a community mental health team or otherwise because I do not have that information available to me. However, I am quite happy to discuss the matter with the Deputy afterwards and to pursue her concerns with the HSE further. As I said, I will be in Galway on Monday and I will find out what I can for the Deputy.