James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the findings of the independent monitoring group on the implementation of A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31432/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I published the Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change on 1 July 2010. The Report acknowledges progress in relation to the development of child and adolescent services, the appointment of an Assistant National Director for Mental Health and Executive Clinical Directors, and the gradual movement towards the creation of catchment areas as outlined in A Vision for Change. However overall the Monitoring Group was disappointed with the progress achieved since the launch of A Vision for Changeover four years ago.

I acknowledge that progress on implementation in some areas is too slow; however in many parts of the country services are pressing ahead with the implementation of A Vision for Change. A significant amount of preparatory work and planning has taken place which will show tangible progress in 2010 and 2011. In addition, the provision in Budget 2010 for a multi-annual programme of capital investment in high priority mental health projects, which will be funded from the proceeds of the disposal of psychiatric assets, will allow progress to be made in relation to the closure of the old mental institutions. In 2010 the HSE will proceed to dispose of surplus assets and reinvest an initial sum of €50m in the mental health capital programme. Provision for continued funding of the programme will be made in the 2011 Estimates and subsequent years, in the light of the previous year's programme of asset sales.

Major initiatives for 2010 include: the completion of two 20-bed child and adolescent in-patient units in Cork and Galway; the development of a new acute psychiatric unit in Donegal - construction has commenced; the development of a child and adolescent mental health facility in Cherry Orchard, Dublin - construction has commenced; the development of a Community Nursing Unit in Mullingar - construction has commenced; the development of a Community Nursing Unit in Clonmel - construction will commence shortly; the development of a new acute unit at Beaumont Hospital to replace the acute unit in St Ita's Hospital, Portrane - construction will commence shortly; acute admissions to St Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman will transfer to Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown.