Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 137: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if issues (details supplied) will be supported. [36112/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 160: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will respond to the correspondence regarding Health Service Executive spending on mental health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35402/09]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce performance indicators with supporting data to enable accurate monitoring of the national mental health budget; and if she will support initiatives to reduce acute long-stay inpatient beds in favour of increased provision of community based services. [35611/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 160 and 176 together.

Under the Health Act 2004 the Health Service Executive is required to prepare and submit an annual Service Plan to the Minister for approval. The Service Plan must inter alia reflect the policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government. Significant progress was made in the HSE Service Plan 2009 in terms of incorporating more explicit links between funding, staffing and services and the development of an improved set of activity measures, performance indicators and deliverables in key service areas, including in the mental health area, which are matched with timescales. The HSE reports monthly to my Department on the performance of the health system against the agreed targets. My Department is continuing to work with the HSE to further refine and develop appropriate performance measures in mental health in 2010.

Policy for the development of mental health services is outlined in 'A Vision for Change' the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. The aim is to migrate from traditional institutional based model to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, whilst still providing in-patient care when appropriate. In January 2008, the Office for Disability and Mental Health was established and one of its priorities is to drive implementation of 'A Vision for Change'. In April 2009, the HSE adopted an implementation plan for the five year period 2009 - 2013 and shortly intends to appoint a national lead for mental health which will bring a new impetus to the implementation of 'A Vision for Change'.