Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to address the link between violence against women and mental ill health; if she plans to implement the Women's Health Council's recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8757/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the full implementation of "A Vision for Change" the report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy and has accepted the report as the basis for the future development of mental health services. Although "A Vision for Change" does not specifically mention gender based violence, it identifies violence as one of the risks that may lead to mental health problems. The Report recommends a mental health system that addresses the needs of the population through a focus on the requirements of the individual and that mental health promotion programmes should particularly focus on those interventions known to enhance protective factors and decrease risk factors for developing mental health problems.

The Womens Health Council Report 'Violence Against Women and Health', 2007 made recommendations in relation to: training of health professionals in dealing with violence against women, improved screening and counselling of women presenting at health services for violence against women, strengthening the advocacy role of the health services, and improved data collection.

Implementation of these recommendations is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in relation to the amount of funding allocated to expert counselling and support organisations in the community and voluntary sector for women who experience violence; her plans to increase funding to this important sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8758/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The distribution of funding for the provision of services to women victims of violence and the provision of health and personal services is a matter for the Health Services Executive. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.