Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps taken to provide hospital facilities to treat people affected by eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27118/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to increase the number of designated specialist beds in the public mental health service for the treatment of eating disorder cases in people over the age of 18, as recommended in Vision for Change; if there is a time frame for implementing these increases; her views on whether a dedicated national adult eating disorders service is needed as a matter of urgency and must be adequately resourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27125/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to designate and fund a dedicated eating disorder service for the management of eating disorder cases arising in childhood and adolescence; the anticipated time frame for doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27137/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 174 and 177 together.

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, training on eating disorders for undergraduate and postgraduate training of health professionals, the further development of primary and community care services including the management of eating disorders in children and adolescents by the child and adolescent community mental health teams, the creation of specialist multi-disciplinary adult teams and the provision of a full multi-disciplinary 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. €500,000 of this funding was provided to enhance the service in the Elm Mount Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin which will provide a national service to support local services in addressing eating disorders. The balance of €250,000 has been allocated to HSE South to commence the development of an eating disorder service. In addition funding was provided for the development of 16 child and adolescent community mental health teams in 2006 and 2007.

Implementation of the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" and management and delivery of health and personal social services are the responsibility of the HSE.