Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the proposals to fully implement the 2006 national mental health policy framework, A Vision for Change; the status of the policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19724/07]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding improvements in the Mental Health Services in 2007; and the plans for same for 2008. [19988/07]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on recommendations contained in A Vision for Change; if Budget 2008 will include provision for significantly increased resources for the mental health services, reflecting the economic and social benefits of investing in prevention and more effective interventions in mental health. [20456/07]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a timeframe for the investment of significantly increased resources for mental health services with particular reference to prevention and more effective intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20950/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 306, 369 and 439 together.

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 services for a seven to ten year period. The Report represents Government policy and is the basis for the future development of our mental health services.

An independent Monitoring Group was established in March 2006, to monitor and assess progress by the Health Service Executive, government departments and other agencies in implementing the recommendations set out in the Report. The Monitoring Group's first annual report was published in May 2007.

Implementation of the individual recommendations of "A Vision for Change", is a matter primarily for the HSE. In July 2006, the HSE established an implementation group to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality. The HSE intend to publish their implementation plan by the Autumn which is to include a timed and prioritised set of short, medium and longer term goals. In acknowledging the need to provide a dedicated and coordinated response to "A Vision for Change", the HSE appointed a full time Project Manager to progress the implementation plan.

Since 1997, significant additional revenue funding has been invested in mental health services. Approximately €1 billion will be spent on mental health services in 2007. This includes an additional €51 million which was allocated in 2006 and 2007 for the development of our mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change". The estimated cost of implementation of "A Vision for Change" is approximately €150 million.

Future funding will be considered in the context of the estimates process for 2008 and subsequent years.