James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the €50 million required for the implementation of a Vision for Change has been made available in Budget 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36384/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated additional cost of implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, 'A Vision for Change' is €150 million over a 7 — 10 year timeframe. A total of €51.2 million has been allocated since 2006 for the development of mental health services in line with the Report which represents over a third of the overall requirement.

Implementation of 'A Vision for Change' is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources than on new additional funds. Additional investment must be phased in parallel with the reorganisation of mental health services and resources. Funding will be provided in 2009 for 35 additional posts for child & adolescent mental health services, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, speech & language therapists and social workers for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams.

Once-off funding of €1.75 million in total will also be provided in 2009 for suicide prevention initiatives and mental health projects supporting service users and carers.