Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures in place to protect the budget to implement A Vision for Change; if she can give an assurance that funding will be ring-fenced in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39303/09]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of monitoring she has in place to ensure that funding allocated for mental health services is spent in that area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39237/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 143 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.

The modernisation of mental health services in line with 'A Vision for Change'is the responsibility of the HSE. It can be achieved to a significant extent through the remodelling of existing resources.