Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the recommendations of the Vision for Change document on mental health services will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1671/08]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will implement the recommendations of the Vision for Change document on mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1672/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 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 Government has accepted the Report as 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, 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. The HSE Implementation Plan has recently been finalised and is expected to be signed off by their Management Team shortly.

The Office of the Minister for Disability and Mental Health, which is being established, will focus in particular on driving the implementation of A Vision for Change and will address the recommendation in A Vision for Change to put in place a framework for interdepartmental co-operation.