Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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398. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the changes in A Vision for Change that will be made to mental health services in Dublin; if more community mental health teams will be recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49060/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A Vision for Change provides a framework for action to develop a modern high quality mental health service. Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services and it is our intention that access to patient-centred, recovery focused mental health services in the community will be significantly improved.

The additional €35 million provided in Budget 2015 brings to €125 million the total investment for mental health services since 2012. This additional allocation is for the development and modernisation of the services in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change. The additional funding for mental health will be directed towards the continued prioritised development and reconfiguration of Community Mental Health Teams. It will also permit urgent specialist needs to be addressed.

The level of health services to be delivered within the total available mental health budget has been set out in the recently published HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2015. The HSE Mental Health Division National Operational Plan, which is currently being developed, will support the implementation of the NSP 2015 and will detail the spectrum of services provided by each Mental Health Service Extended Catchment Area and the priorities for 2015.