David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, with reference to the National Economic and Social Forum Report 36, the Senior Officials Group under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion are responsible for the implementation of the recommendations of the report; the action which has been taken in doing

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Economic and Social Forum's report on Mental Health and Social Inclusion is consistent with 'A Vision for Change' which was launched in January 2006.

A key recommendation of the NESF report is the establishment of cross-departmental structures to address mental health and social inclusion. In January 2008, the Government announced the establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health. The Office is a cross-departmental Government office with functions in four Departments: Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Director of the Office is a member of the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion.

The Office's functions include driving the recommendations of 'A Vision for Change', bringing a new impetus to the implementation of the Report through working in partnership with the HSE and other stakeholders to achieve implementation of agreed targets. The recommendations of the NESF report will inform the work of the Office in this regard.