Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made to implement the national policy framework on mental health, A Vision for Change; the extent to which it is expected that waiting times will be reduced and inpatient facilities will be available by 24 January 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4815/07]

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", which was launched in January 2006, provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over the next seven to ten years. The Government has accepted the Report as the basis for the future development of our mental health services.

In March 2006, I appointed an independent monitoring group to monitor progress on the implementation of the recommendations of "A Vision for Change". The group will monitor and assess progress on the implementation of all the recommendations including those which fall under the responsibility of the HSE, government departments and other relevant agencies. The Group is to submit its first annual report in mid 2007.

Implementation of the individual recommendations of "A Vision for Change" is a matter primarily for the HSE. The HSE established an implementation group in July 2006 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. I have been informed by the HSE that they plan to publish a Progress Report and outline the proposed implementation programme over the 10 year life of "A Vision for Change" in the near future. Both of these groups will play an important role in ensuring that the recommendations are implemented in a co-ordinated and timely manner.

In 2006, a sum of €26.2 million was provided for the development of our mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change". A further sum of €25 million has been allocated for 2007 to continue this development.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including waiting times, was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. However, urgent cases are prioritised for immediate assessment. The Executive is, therefore, the appropriate body to consider this and the other matters raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.