John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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. Development funding totalling €51.2m was allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007. Additional funding of €2.8m was provided in 2009 for the recruitment of 35 therapy posts for the child and adolescent mental health service. There are, however, also substantial resources tied up in institutions and their release is also required to fund the new model of care.

In relation to annual expenditure on the implementation of 'A Vision for Change ' this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Mental Health Commission has issued a code of practice relating to the admission of children under the Mental Health Act 2001 which outlines arrangements and facilities that should be put in place to ensure the protection and safety of such children. An addendum to this code of practice was issued by the Commission in June 2009 and provides that;

a) No child under 16 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st July 2009;

b) No child under 17 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st December 2010; and

c) No child under 18 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st December 2011.

If, in exceptional circumstances, a young person is admitted to an adult unit, the approved centre is obliged to submit a detailed report to the Mental Health Commission outlining why the admission has taken place. The Commission reviews any such notifications received and follows up as appropriate. The HSE has prioritised the development of mental health services for children and adolescents. During 2009, bed capacity for children and adolescents almost doubled, bringing the total number of in-patient beds to 30. In addition, two new 20 bed units at Bessboro, Cork and Merlin Park, Galway are due to open before the end of the year, and this will increase capacity to 52 beds. A child should of course only be admitted as a psychiatric in-patient as a last resort and should as far as possible receive the necessary treatment in the community. To this end there are now 55 consultant led child and adolescent teams in place throughout the country and a further 8 teams are in development. In addition, work commenced recently on the Linn Dara, Child and Adolescent Facility at Cherry Orchard, Dublin, which will provide a day hospital as well as accommodation for mental health teams and administrative staff, and training and library facilities. It is anticipated that these developments will greatly reduce the need to admit young people to adult units.