James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Health the targets in place for community psychiatry of old age service teams staff levels in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most recent survey of the staffing of Psychiatry of Old Age Services carried out in December 2015 recorded staffing at over 300 whole time equivalents. This does not include a further 30 additional Psychiatry of Old Age posts approved through Programme for Government Funding, and which are currently being recruited.

A Vision for Changerecommended that there should be a total of 552 staff. The additional posts currently being recruited will both be used to add to existing teams and in some cases provide for development of new teams.

The HSE will shortly submit its National Service Plan for 2017 which will utilise the total funding available, and in particular the increased funding provided by Government, to further implementA Vision for Change.