Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the additional efficiency target to save €50 million that have been set for disability, mental health and child care services in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1280/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There is no doubt that there are challenges facing the mental health, disability and child care services as a result of reduced resources by way of an additional efficiency target of €50 million in 2012. This target is in addition to savings in employment and procurement costs which are required of the health services as a whole next year. The precise level of savings required will vary depending on the profile of individual service providers and is currently being considered in the context of the development of the National Service Plan for the HSE which has been submitted to me and which I am considering. It is clear that the acceleration of the health reform programme and the reduction of our dependency on costly staff-intensive models of service will be central to ensuring these efficiency targets are met. As I informed the House before Christmas, I am pleased to be in a position to provide additional ring-fenced funding of €35 million for mental health services in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. This funding will further advance the implementation of A Vision for Change, which was the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. It will enable the HSE to enhance the multidisciplinary composition of the existing adult and child and adolescent community mental health teams; focus on key priorities in mental health; and increase the availability of psychological and counselling services at primary care level. As 90% of mental health needs are dealt with in primary care settings, this funding will assist in developing closer links between mental health services and primary care.