Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Health his ongoing initiatives to ensure the Vision for Change document is implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8597/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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'A Vision for Change', published in 2006, sets out a 10 year policy framework for Ireland's mental health services. Since 2012, the Government has provided additional funding ring-fenced for mental health. In 2012, the Mental Health budget was €711m. Today, it is €827m, an increase of €116m, or 16%, over this period. Overall, approximately 1,550 new posts have been approved for the mental health services since 2012 although some existing posts in that time have also been lost due to retirements and normal attrition.

Ongoing developments that occurred under the term of the outgoing Government include the development of the Counselling in Primary Care Service (CIPC) for adults over 18 years who are medical card holders; a greater awareness of fostering mental health promotion in society through campaigns like the 'Let's Talk' campaign and 'The Little Things'; the publication last year of the Expert Review Group Report on the Mental Health Act 2001 and the new Suicide Prevention Strategy 'Connecting for Life';reducing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting lists for those waiting over 12 Months; commencing works for the new National Forensic Hospital to replace Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum; the development of counselling services across both primary and secondary care, including early intervention at primary care level, and five new Jigsaw youth mental health services planned for Cork (2), Dublin (2) and Limerick and development of Perinatal Mental Health Services.

In addition, funding has been made available to facilitate the transfer of some patients from the Forensic Mental Health Services to the community, investment in high observation in acute mental health units, the improvement of 24/7 services through additional liaison psychiatry services, new clinical programmes for dual diagnosis and adults with ADHD, provision of additional clinical space in community services and more funds for clinical programmes directed at eating disorders, self-harm in Emergency Departments and early intervention in psychosis.