Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding that will be spent in 2009 to implement A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20469/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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. Substantial resources are invested in mental health services; overall spending on these services amounts to an estimated €1 billion. Development funding totalling €51.2m was allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007, some of which was diverted because of core budgetary pressures; however, I am advised by the HSE that 94% of the €51.2m will be in place before the end of 2009. Implementing 'A Vision for Change' is essentially about the reallocation and remodelling of these resources. Additional funding has been provided in 2009 for the recruitment of 35 therapy posts for the child and adolescent mental health service. In addition, once-off funding of €1.75m has been provided for suicide prevention initiatives and for mental health projects supporting service users and carers.