James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reinstate a monitoring group for the implementation of A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/17]

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. In March 2006, in line with the recommendation in 'A Vision for Change', the First Independent Monitoring Group was established for a three-year period to monitor progress on the implementation of the report recommendations. The term of the first group ceased in April 2009 and in June 2009 a Second Independent Monitoring Group was appointed for a further three-year period. The Second group finished its work, delivering its final report in 2011.

'A Vision for Change' came to the end of its 10-year term in 2016. The increased investment in mental health services over the last number of years has helped to facilitate an increase in the number and staffing levels of both Adult, and Children & Adolescent Community Mental Health Teams. Of the additional 1,550 new mental health posts approved since 2012, some 1,150 have been, or are in the process of being, recruited, notwithstanding the generally challenging recruitment market in which the HSE is operating.

Increased investment has also funded the development of specialist services recommended in A Vision for Change, including Forensic, Eating Disorders, Psychiatry of Later Life, and Mental Health Intellectual Disability services. There has also been continued development of community mental health teams, improved 7-day responses and liaison services, Peri-natal Mental Health and two new clinical programmes – specifically for ADHD in Adults and Children, and for Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.

The Department of Health has now commenced the process of updating A Vision for Change. An evidence-based expert review which will focus on the progress made to date in the implementation of A Vision for Change, including a review of current delivery of services in Ireland, was commissioned in November 2016. The review will also 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. This will provide a solid evidence base to determine the policy direction for a revision of A Vision for Changeand is expected to be completed in February 2017.

An oversight committee will be established within three months of the review being finalised to oversee the development of a new policy for mental health based on the outcome of the expert review.