Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce an independent mechanism for persons to complain if they have had a negative or adverse experience of Health Service Executive mental health services. [11317/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has a complaints management process in place entitled 'Your Service, Your Say’ which is committed to safeguarding rights and providing for a fair and impartial investigation of any complaint received. There are a variety of ways in which complaints can be made and all staff in the HSE are enabled and empowered to appropriately handle complaints with designated Complaints Officers in place to ensure the effective management of complaints throughout their relevant areas of responsibility. In addition complainants have a right of an independent review by a Review Officer while the Office of the Ombudsman can also examine complaints about certain actions of the HSE. The HSE’s National Advocacy Service is also available to assist people make complaints.

While the Mental Health Commission does not investigate individual complaints, the Mental Health Act 2001 provides that during the annual inspection of approved centres, the Inspector of Mental Health Services shall see every patient whom he or she has been requested to examine by the resident himself or herself or by any other person. In this regard, the Inspector of Mental Health Services can make enquires of the relevant approved centre on subsequent inspection.

The Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act 2001 which was published in 2015 looked at the complaints procedures that currently exist within the mental health service and examined a suggestion of providing for a separate Mental Health Ombudsman. It was felt by the Group that as complaints about mental health services already have access to the existing Office of the Ombudsman and the fact that a separate complaints system for mental health patients could be seen as discriminatory, it would be premature to recommend a Mental Health Ombudsman at this juncture, however it was recommended that it should be re-examined as part of the suggested five to ten year review of any new Act.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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428. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to have equality of service for counselling and suicide prevention available in the mental health catchment areas. [11318/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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429. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce information systems for mental health services given that there is no indication of waiting times for adults waiting for the services. [11319/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Minister for Health when he will review A Vision for Change; and if he will have a clear implementation plan with accountability. [11320/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 of €160m ring-fenced for mental health. Ongoing developments that occurred under the term of the 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' and 'The Little Things' campaigns; 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';a reduction in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting lists for those waiting over 12 Months; the commencement of work on the new National Forensic Hospital to replace the 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 the 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.

'A Vision for Change' comes to the end of its 10-year term this year and plans for its review are underway. Currently, an appropriate team is being selected to undertake a comprehensive study of the mental health services in Ireland and best practice internationally, to inform the review. Once this information is collected and analysed, the decision as to whether an implementation plan will be formed will be made at that point.