Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise this issue. I accept the Government is committed to the development of appropriate mental health services and this is clearly seen in the allocation of money to those areas of the health service. My question is about the allocation of €25 million for the implementation of A Vision for Change in the 2007 budget.

On 20 December last, I asked in an Adjournment debate where this money had been spent. The reply I received indicated the laudable projects to which the money was allocated, but it did not indicate whether the money was actually spent on these projects. My concern is that the evidence available does not appear to indicate that the €25 million was spent on mental health services. The purpose of this debate is to examine the concrete progress on those projects. Just under €8 million, for example, was allocated to services for children and adolescents. That included provision for 22 inpatient beds for children and adolescents. However, we do not have 22 such beds. I have spoken to people in the Health Service Executive and have asked Professor Drumm whether any adolescent beds will be provided this year. He indicated that it appears unlikely. However, the reply I received in December stated that the money had been specifically allocated last year for the provision of those beds.

The reply also stated that eight teams were being developed specifically for children and adolescents. Has that happened? I was also told that €12.5 million was being allocated to improve specialist mental health services for older people, to improve specialist mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities and to increase the number of adult teams in the community. Will the Minister indicate whether that money was spent in the areas for which it was allocated? Can he give a progress report on each of the projects identified to me in December as being in receipt of that funding? There is no evidence they received the funding.