David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Children regarding the new Office for Disability and Mental Health; the interaction his Department will have with the new office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4228/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health was announced by the Taoiseach on Wednesday, 30th January, 2008. The office will support the Minister of State for Disability and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children in exercising his responsibilities in four Government Departments, namely, the Departments of Health and Children, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science, and Enterprise Trade and Employment.

Formal arrangements will be put in place to improve linkage between the new Office and the four relevant Government Departments, including the holding of quarterly meetings between the Minister of State for Disability and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children and the four Secretaries General, and a Principal Officer from my Department having a reporting relationship to the Director of the new Office The key focus of these arrangements as they relate to my Department will be to address the development of an appropriate continuum of training and employment support services for people with a disability.