Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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19. To ask the Minister for Health the form and terms of reference for the review panel on A Vision for Change; the progress of same; if the review will provide recommendations; if and when it will publish a report. [13729/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In January 2006, the Government adopted the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy 'A Vision for Change' as the basis for the future development of mental health services in Ireland. It advocated:

- A holistic view of mental illness and an integrated multidisciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems.

- A move away from traditional institutional-based care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service.

- A person-centred treatment approach which addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan, reflecting best practice, evolved and agreed with both service users and their carers.

- The aiming of interventions at maximising recovery from mental illness, building on the resources within service users and within their immediate social networks, to allow them to achieve meaningful integration and participation in community life.

- The organisation, nationally, of mental health services in catchment areas for populations of between 250,000 and 400,000, with specialist expertise provided by community mental health teams

– expanded multidisciplinary teams of clinicians who work together to service the needs of service users across the lifespan.

'A Vision for Change'has guided national mental health policy for the past 10 years and its term comes to an end this year. The Department is currently finalising a request for tender for a review and analysis of international evidence and best practice in the development of mental health services, including a review of current delivery of services in Ireland. This review will provide evidence to determine the policy direction for a revision of 'A Vision for Change'. The review will also have regard to both human rights and health and well-being objectives. At that stage, the exact timeframe for completion of the revised policy direction will be determined by the planned analysis outlined above.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Health the key priorities in mental health under the new programme for Government and why there is no funding commitment on mental health as there was in the 2011 to 2016 programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13832/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Partnership Government confirms this Government’s commitment to further develop and improve our mental health services in line with existing policy as set out in A Vision for Change. We recognise the importance of fully implementing this long-standing policy in a manner which recognises both geographic accessibility and which will allow primary care teams in particular to provide or access a much greater range of care. However, as A Vision for Changeis 10 years old this year the Government is also committed to conducting an evidence-based expert review of progress in its implementation and in the improvement of mental health services. The review will take account of international best practice and will inform the next steps in the development of our mental health policy, having regard to both human rights and health and wellbeing objectives.

The Programme for Partnership Government gives a clear commitment to increasing the mental health budget annually so that we can build capacity in existing services and develop new services. For example, we aim to extend counselling services in primary care to people on low income and .extend support for organisations that offer free counselling and psychological services. In addition, we will work to ensure that every Emergency Department has Clinical Nurse Specialists in psychiatry on their team, with greater linkages to primary care.

The Programme for Government recognises the need to further promote awareness and prevention strategies in our education system. We acknowledge that a more thorough understanding of students’ own emotional wellbeing is also required. That is why a National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health will be established to consider how best to introduce and teach resilience and coping mechanisms to children and young people, and also how to access support services voluntarily at a young age. Accessible and informal mental health services can play a vital role in connecting with young people. We plan to extend services such as Jigsaw, which offers free access and a more informal environment to young people who wish to engage with our mental health services.

The Government is committed to the implementation of the national suicide strategy Connecting for Life - a national plan for the whole of Government and the whole of society to work together. The importance of this strategy cannot be underestimated, and I plan to ask the relevant Oireachtas Committee to monitor and oversee its implementation.

Some €115m in additional funding was added to the mental health budget in the HSE National Service Plans over the period 2012 to 2016. I am confident that, as the economy continues to grow, the priority this Government attaches to mental health will see further development of services through additional funding and effective use of existing resources.