Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 242: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether an out of hours, community based on-call service for people suffering from mental health problems is essential, in view of the fact that sufferers may need care outside of office hours and should have 24 hour emergency care available in the same way as people suffering from physical illnesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24860/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change" was launched on the 24th January 2006. This policy envisions an active, flexible and community-based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. The Government has accepted the Expert Group's report as the basis for the future development of the mental health services.

The report recommends that local multidisciplinary community mental health teams should provide a single point of access for primary care for advice, routine and crisis referral to all mental health services (community and hospital based). It recommends that research should be undertaken to establish how many services currently have effective community mental health teams and to identify the factors that facilitate and impede effective team functioning and the resources required to support the effective functioning of community mental health teams. The report sets out a requirement for the service providers to clarify procedures for a 24 hour access to Mental Health Services.

At present 95% of mental health conditions are being treated at primary care level. General practitioners act as one of the gateways to psychiatric care. This is the appropriate route to access interventions that do not require specialist mental health services. A study by the HSE and the Irish College of General Practice outlined a range of supports (educational and specific skilled counsellors) to enhance primary care mental health provision, which is endorsed by "A Vision for Change". Many of the new primary health care teams include or have access to psychological services.

The Health Service Executive, which has primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations of "A Vision for Change" is in the process of establishing a National Implementation Group to ensure that the recommendations are realised in a timely and coordinated manner. I have recently appointed an Independent Monitoring Group, as recommended in the Report, to oversee the implementation of "A Vision for Change".