Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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7. To ask the Minister for Health his views regarding the mental health service provision in the primary care unit in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. [14640/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Ballyfermot/Palmerstown currently has a catchment area of approximately 88,000 people. There is a very wide ranging and broad spectrum of activities on offer to clients with mental illness, from mild episodes to more severe and enduring ill-health. The Mental Health Service in Ballyfermot has adopted a holistic approach to the type of services offered and fosters a sense of empowerment of clients to take control of their mental health status.

The services provided by Ballyfermot Primary Care and Mental Health Centre are in line with A Vision for Changeand include the following:

- Core services are provided by three Consultant-led teams that also include a number of non-Consultant hospital doctors.

- A dedicated Rehabilitation Consultant.

- Patients requiring emergency or in-patient care are referred to the Acute In-patient Unit at Tallaght Hospital.

- Daily Occupational Therapy input with functional assessments available including Social Work and Psychology Services input.

- A Home-Based Treatment Team with a case load of between 10-12 clients per staff member, including Community Mental Health Nurses.

- Day Hospital and Day Services, which are open 7 days per week, which provide a wide range of therapeutic activities, e.g Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), men’s group, mental health groups providing peer support, monthly carers' group, social outings, music/drama groups facilitated by staff or clients, art therapy and FETAC level courses.

- The Day Hospital has forged strong working relationships with local pharmacy services and GPs, in addition to Public Health Nurses.

- The First Episode Psychosis service, dealing with 18-35 year age group, includes baseline health screening and physical health screening, monitoring clients along with their families, providing them with support and education regarding their illness.

- Speech and Language Therapy Services are available for clients with swallow difficulties and speech issues requiring assessment and intervention.

- Service Users are facilitated to become involved as Advocates for other service users.

- Ongoing training for staff as part of their continuous professional development.

The significant investment provided by this Government since 2012 is enabling the HSE Mental Health Division to put in place a range of quality, person-centred, evidence based services to ensure that people with mental health difficulties are supported to achieve their optimal mental health. Some €125 million in additional funding has been provided by this Government to, in particular, strengthen community based mental health services across the country.