Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health if in advance of the Independent Monitoring Group on A Vision for Change report due next month, he will address what action has been taken on foot of last year's report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24518/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In its Annual Report for 2010, the Independent Monitoring Group acknowledged that progress had been made in the implementation of A Vision for Change in 2010 particularly in relation to the development of new adult and child and adolescent mental health care in Dublin, Cork and Galway and the closure of outdated services. However, the Monitoring Group was disappointed that there had been little progress in the implementation of the specialist mental health services and, in particular, the creation of fully staffed community mental health teams to develop the model of service outlined in A Vision for Change.

Since taking office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. It must be recognised that significant progress has been achieved in the mental health services including shorter episodes of in-patient care, fewer involuntary admissions and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery. There are now 61 Child and Adolescent and 124 Adult Community Mental Health Teams in operation.

Developments on the Capital Programme are continuing with new Acute Units, Community Mental Health Centres, Residential Facilities, Day Hospitals and Day Centres being developed around the country. This has facilitated the closure of most of our old institutional type psychiatric hospitals. In relation to Child and Adolescent mental health services, two 20-bed in-patient units have been developed in Cork and Galway. Work is continuing on the development of the second phase of the Child and Adolescent Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview and an 8 bedded interim facility at St Loman's, Palmerstown. The Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day Facility at Cherry Orchard, Dublin has also been completed and will open shortly.

A special allocation of €35m for mental health was announced in Budget 2012 in line with the Programme for Government commitments. Funding from this special allocation will be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both Adult and Children's mental health services which will ensure, at a minimum, that at least one of each mental health professional discipline is represented on every team.

It is intended that the additional resources will be rolled out in conjunction with a scheme of appropriate clinical care programmes. Some of the funding will also be used to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems. Over 400 additional staff will be recruited to support these initiatives.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health when we may expect the establishment of a directorate for mental health and specifically will this post be given budgetary authority and responsibility for the implementation of A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24519/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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My colleague Minister Reilly intends to bring legislative proposals to Government to abolish the HSE Board structure under the Health Act 2004 and to provide for replacement governance structures and enhanced accountability arrangements. In tandem with the proposed new legal structures, new administrative structures will be put in place within the HSE which will reflect the need for a greater operational management focus on the delivery of key services and greater transparency about funding, service delivery and accountability. Consideration is currently being given to how best to give effect to the new administrative structures, including the selection and appointment of new directors at national level, including mental health.