Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A Vision for Change (2006) sets out a comprehensive framework for the development of all mental health services. It recommends, broadly, a move away from the traditional institutional based model of care to a more patient-centred, flexible and community based service, where the need for hospital admission is greatly reduced while still providing in-patient care, as appropriate. This Government has prioritised the reform and resourcing of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change,and has significantly progressed this through the provision of €125 million since 2012, to underpin a range of new services initiatives to meet this widely agreed strategy objective. This sustained investment in mental health since 2012 has resulted in over 1,150 new staff for the sector.

A Vision for Change contained a commitment that it would be reviewed after 7 years. It was decided to give priority to the review of the Mental Health Act 2001, after which consideration would again be given to reviewing Visionand establishing independent monitoring arrangements. The Expert Group which I set up to review the Mental Health Act 2001 has now completed its work and I plan to shortly seek Government approval for the drafting of a General Scheme of a Mental Health (Amendment) Bill to incorporate the recommendations of the review in revised legislation.

Preliminary work on the development of a successor policy to A Vision for Changeis under way and a review will commence as soon as possible.