Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on the implementation of each of the eight specific recommendations in relation to improving service provision for those affected by eating disorders contained within A Vision for Change; and her plans and timescale for their full implementation. [22348/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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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 a 7 to 10 year period. "A Vision for Change" acknowledges gaps in the current provision of services for people with eating disorders and makes several recommendations for the further improvement of these services.

Recommendations include support for health promotion initiatives that encourage greater community and family awareness of eating disorders, the further development of primary and community care services and the provision of a full multidisciplinary team in a National Centre for Eating Disorders for complex cases that cannot be managed by local child and adolescent community mental health teams. Responsibility for the implementation of these recommendations rests with the HSE.

In 2006, €26.2 million was allocated for the development of mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change". An additional €25 million has been provided to the HSE in 2007, €750,000 of which is for developing services for eating disorders.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the HSE under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.