Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health his priorities for mental health services; if he will ensure that there are no cuts in expenditure in this area in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/11]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the mental health strategy, A Vision for Change; the funding in place for the implementation of this plan; the timeframe for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29070/11]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the mental health services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29111/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 184 and 208 together.

The Government has prioritised the reform of the mental health service in line with A Vision for Change. This commitment was clearly shown in the Programme for Government which provides that €35 million will be ring-fenced annually from within the overall health budget to develop community mental health services and to ensure early access to more appropriate services for adults and children. This is currently being considered as part of the Estimates process for 2012 and future years. In addition, as 90% of mental health needs are dealt with at primary care level, the Government is committed to developing closer links between mental health services and primary care. It is envisaged that the provision of improved community-based services will ensure that people with mental health problems receive the treatment and after-care support needed to facilitate recovery.

A Vision for Change contains some 200 recommendations to be implemented over a 7 - 10 year timeframe. As implementation of the recommendations is primarily the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE appointed an Assistant National Director as the national lead for mental health to ensure delivery of mental health services in line with Government policy. While it is accepted that progress on implementation has been slower than originally anticipated, services in many parts of the country are pressing ahead with implementation which includes the phased closure of psychiatric hospitals. Significant progress has been achieved to date including: shorter episodes of in-patient care, improved child and adolescent mental health services, fewer involuntary admissions and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery.

It is the Government's intention that over time access to modern mental health services in the community will be significantly improved and my priority as Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health will be to further advance the implementation of A Vision for Change. Towards this end, I have asked the HSE to prepare an implementation plan, which will identify specific recommendations of A Vision for Change that can be progressed over the next three years, with timelines, detailed costs, structures and identifiable person(s) responsible for driving the change including delivery on the commitments in our Programme for Government. Issues related to staffing levels particularly in community mental health teams will be examined in this context.

A Vision for Change also recognised that all citizens should be treated equally and that access to employment for people with mental health difficulties should be on the same basis as any other citizen. We are endeavouring, through housing, education and community based health care, to provide the environment in which employment opportunities can be availed of by all on an equal basis.