Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timetable for implementing the recommendations contained in A Vision for Change; the way the Government plan to ensure that A Vision for Change will be fully implemented and that the necessary resources are put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35256/06]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way the Government intends to ensure that the policy for mental health, A Vision for Change, will be fully implemented and that action will be taken on its recommendations by all Government Departments whose role it mentions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35264/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timetable for implementing A Vision for Change. [35385/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way the Government plans to ensure that A Vision for Change will be fully implemented, and that the necessary changes and resources are put in place to complete the recommendations. [35386/06]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the policies she has put in place to focus on mental health promotion and prevention as it is stated that one in four people here will experience a mental health problem at some time in their lives; the way her Department is ensuring that these polices are being fully implemented in the context of the Government National Policy Framework for mental health A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35620/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 349, 365, 366 and 385 together.

The implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change" will be a matter primarily for the Health Service Executive in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act, 2004.

The Report, which has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of our mental health services, outlines a vision of the future for mental health services and sets out a framework for action to achieve it over the next 7-10 years. An additional €26.2 million was made available this year to the Health Service Executive for the further development of our mental health services, bringing the total revenue spend to approximately €835m in 2006.

I acknowledge that significant capital investment is required to provide and equip the proposed new mental health infrastructure. "A Vision for Change" estimates that approximately €800m will be required. However, there are substantial capital assets tied up in the existing psychiatric hospital buildings and lands which could be used productively to expand and modernise our mental health services. The Report recommends that the full economic value of such hospital buildings and lands within the mental health services be assessed and valued. The value of these assets should significantly counterbalance the projected capital cost.

In March 2006, I appointed an independent monitoring group to monitor progress on the implementation of all the recommendations in "A Vision for Change". In addition, the Health Service Executive recently established an implementation group to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and to guide and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality. Both of these Groups will play an important role in ensuring that the recommendations are implemented in a co-ordinated and timely manner.

"A Vision for Change" highlights the importance of mental health promotion in the prevention of mental health problems through the development of coping and problem-solving skills, help-seeking and resilience. It also recommends that mental health promotion should be available for all age groups, to enhance the protective factors and decrease risk factors for developing mental health problems. The Health Service Executive now has responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including health promotion programme development and implementation and will be guided by national policy in the development of mental health promotion programmes.