Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures in place to ensure that money specifically allocated to implement A Vision for Change since 2006 is spent for that purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9303/08]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will insist that funding promised over a five year period to implement A Vision for Change is allocated and spent for that purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9304/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 128 together.

The estimated additional cost of the implementation of 'A Vision for Change' is €150m over 7-10 years. A total of €51.2 million has been allocated since 2006 which represents over a third of the overall requirement.

There are substantial resources already invested in mental health. In 2007, it is estimated that €1 billion was spent on these services. In addition to the extra funding required, existing resources need to be remodelled and reallocated. Indeed, implementation of 'A Vision for Change' is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources than on new funding. Both aspects, the additional investment and the reorganisation of existing mental health services and resources, must be managed in parallel. In view of the significant additional investment in 2006 and 2007, it is appropriate, in 2008, to pause and review the situation to ensure consolidation of the investment to date. The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney has made it clear to the Health Service Executive in the context of their Service Plan for 2008 that there can be no question of diverting capital or development funds to meet expenditure pressures arising in relation to core services. I will be meeting with the HSE shortly to pursue this issue.