Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount allocated in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for the implementation of the commitments contained in A Vision for Change; the amount of the allocation of the €25 million additional investment in 2006 and 2007 that has been spent on mental health services to date; the outcome of same; the plans for any unspent amount of the allocations in 2006 and 2007; the reason no additional funding has been allocated in 2008 for implementation of A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18023/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to invest in and fully implement the Vision for Change Strategy and provide further additional funding to support the recovery model of mental health service provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18333/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 215 together.

The estimated additional cost of the implementation of 'A Vision for Change' the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy 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. In addition to the extra funding required to finance 'A Vision for Change', existing resources need to be remodelled and reallocated. It is clear that the implementation of the report is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources, than on new additional funding. It is also clear that additional investment must be phased in parallel with the reorganisation of mental health services and resources. In view of the significant additional investment in 2006 and 2007, it is necessary to pause and review the situation in 2008, to ensure consolidation of the investment to date.

Substantial resources have been invested in mental health services. Estimated expenditure in 2006 and 2007 was €984 million and €1 billion, respectively. It is also important to bear in mind that some 90% of mental health services are provided at primary care level. Expenditure on these services is not captured in the above figures.

The Department of Health and Children has been advised by the HSE that €24 million of the €51.2 million development funding was not used as planned because of competing expenditure pressures and the overriding obligation on the HSE to live within its overall Vote. As a result, some of the planned developments in mental health services have been delayed; however, some of the mental health services funded in 2006 and 2007 will be put in place in 2008. These include:

the provision of 8 additional child and adolescent mental health teams; and

the provision of 18 additional beds for children and adolescents at St. Anne's, Galway, St. Vincent's, Fairview, and St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork, to increase the bed complement from the current provision of 12 to 30 during 2008.

The implementation of 'A Vision for Change' will be a key priority for the recently established Office for Disability and Mental Health.