Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Health the persons undertaking the review of A Vision for Change; the terms of reference including confirmation that the terms include the re-establishment of an independent implementation body; when it commenced; the finish date envisioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17116/18]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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My question relates to the review of the Vision for Change, when it started and when it will be complete. Who is the team and what is its terms of reference and will an independent implementation body be included?

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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A Vision for Change came to the end of its ten year term in 2016.  Preparations for a review and an updating of policy have been underway since early last year. An external evidence and expert review was completed in February 2017 providing a review of international best practice and the experience of implementing A Vision for Change.

An oversight group has been established to oversee the development of a refreshed policy for mental health based on the recommendations arising out of the expert review. The policy review process will also involve consultation with key stakeholders.

An independent Chairperson, Hugh Kane, was appointed last summer and the remaining membership of the group was fully finalised in October last year. The oversight group members are as follows: Hugh Kane, Chair; Liam Hennessy, HSE head of mental health engagement; Dr. Philip Dodd, national clinical adviser and clinical programme group lead for mental health; Dr Amanda Burke, executive clinical director on Galway-Roscommon mental health services; Dr. Fiona Keogh, senior research fellow, National University of Ireland, Galway; Martha Griffin, expert by experience; Dr. Shari McDaid, director of mental health reform; Yvonne O’Neill, HSE head of planning, performance and programme management; Dr. Brian Osborne, GP, Irish College of General Practitioners; Leo Kinsella, head of service mental health, CHO1; and Gregory Canning, principal officer from the mental health unit in the Department of Health.

The terms of reference of the oversight group entail the review and updating of A Vision for Change. As they are detailed, I am arranging for a copy of the group's detailed terms of reference to be supplied to the Deputy.

The terms of reference require the group to produce "an updated draft policy framework which sets out current and future service priorities within a time-bound implementation plan". However, there is a not an explicit reference to an independent implementation body and this matter will be given consideration once the nature of the group's recommendations are clearer.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State's response and that he will provide me with the terms of reference and the list of names. However, it is not clear when the review started. What date did it start and when will it be completed? The reason I am asking this is that I know A Vision for Change, I have read it and used it. It ran out in January 2016. We are now in April 2018. Since then, we have had a wide-angled international review of evidence and development, which simply looked at the literature. I have to welcome it. It was done very quickly in 12 weeks. The delay occurred in publishing it. The date on the review was February 2017 and it was not published until July, which was an unnecessary delay. I have not read it. What is required on this is a very light touch review. Will the Minister of State please give a timeframe?

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The first meeting with provisional membership took place on 5 October 2017. The membership was fully finalised on 25 October 2017. The group is scheduled to complete its work by December 2018.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I very much welcome that clarification. Can I take it that we will have A Vision for Change No. 2 by the end of this year, in December 2018?

The second point relates to the independent implementation body. It is useless having more policies. What worked for A Vision for Change was that the independent implementation body sat for two three-year periods and then they were abolished because they were doing a very good job. I ask the Minister of State to re-examine that and make sure there is an independent implementation body if we are seriously interested in mental health.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I will take her comments on board. I know she has a particularly keen interest in this area and has followed it carefully. I accept what she says about an independent implementation body and I assure her I will give it further consideration.