Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the period by which waiting times will be reduced in relation to the A Vision For Change document and its reference to mental health services for children; the number of children's in-patient facilities that will be available within the next 12 month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3642/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, entitled "A Vision for Change", was launched in January 2006. It provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over the next 7 to 10 years. It recommends the provision of two child and adolescent community multidisciplinary mental health teams per 100,000 of the population.

In 2006, a sum of €26.2 million was allocated for the development of mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change'. A further sum of €25 million has been allocated in 2007 to continue this development. A significant amount of this year's funding — €7.95m — is for the development of child and adolescent psychiatric services. This funding will bring about significant improvements in community, hospital-based and early intervention services and provide for the development of new child and adolescent mental health teams.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The Executive is, therefore, the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.