Written answers

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Department of Health and Children

Departmental Bodies

9:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the budget that has been made available to the Office for Disability and Mental Health in 2008; the number of staff employed in the office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9279/08]

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Office for Disability and Mental Health was established by the Taoiseach at the end of January 2008. The Office supports me as the Minister for Disability and Mental Health in exercising my responsibilities in four Government Departments, namely the Departments of Health & Children; Justice, Equality & Law Reform; Education & Science and Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

The new Office brings together responsibility for a range of different policy areas and State services which directly impact on the lives of people with a disability and people with mental health issues. The Office will bring about improvements in the manner in which services respond to the needs of people with disabilities and mental health issues, by continuing the work to develop person-centred services, focusing on the holistic needs of people with a disability and actively involving them in their own care.

The budget for the Office is encompassed in the Vote of the Department of Health and Children. A Director has been appointed to the Office from within the Department's staff complement and 34 wholetime equivalent staff, drawn mainly from the Disability and Mental Health Units of the Department, now form the core of the new Office. Senior managers from each of the three other Departments concerned also have a reporting relationship with the Director of the Office.

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