Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 29 January 2019, the status of the work undertaken in recommendation 73 of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy; if this action incorporates specific measures to address Traveller suicide; and if he will report on the issue [10765/19]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 29 January 2019, when a detailed action plan based on the findings of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study will be finalised; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10766/19]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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344. To ask the Minister for Health if a planning advisory body for Traveller health to deliver the national Traveller health action plan will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/19]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the national Traveller health advisory committee has not been convened since 2012. [10769/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342, 344 and 345 together.

Health and well-being are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers, homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the population. Rates of chronic diseases are another indicator of health inequalities. A social gradient is also apparent in mental health.

The Department has undertaken significant measures across the health service to address the health needs of Travellers, including funding for the All Ireland Traveller Health Study. There is ongoing and extensive engagement with Traveller organisations on their health needs.

The Department and the HSE participate in various official structures which monitor the provision of healthcare services for Travellers. These include the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee and the Traveller Health Advisory Forum. The Department's Healthy Ireland Network also has Traveller representatives.

The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) sets out over 30 actions to address the health needs of Travellers and Roma. The Department and the HSE report regularly on the implementation of these actions to the NTRIS steering group, chaired by Minister David Stanton. One of the NTRIS actions is for the HSE to develop and implement a detailed action plan to continue to address the specific health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach.

I am fully committed to improving the health outcomes for Travellers and I look forward to receiving from the HSE its Traveller health action plan in due course.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 581, 582 and 584 of 15 January 2019, the status of the work of the oversight group working on the refresh of the A Vision for Change national mental health policy; the specific terms of reference for the group that place a particular emphasis on the Traveller community; when the group will report; if the report will be published; and if he will report on the issue. [10767/19]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Oversight Group are currently working on finalising the refreshed National Mental Health Policy 'Vision for Change' and it is expected that the final draft report will be complete before the end of quarter 1,2019.

The draft report will then need to be costed and agreed with key departments who have responsibility for implementing recommendations. It is expected that the final document will be published in quarter 2,2019.

The Terms of reference for the Oversight group follow. The refreshed policy is aligned Slàintecare priorities and takes a whole of population approach to accessing mental health services and seeks to meet the mental health needs of all individuals

'1(g) proposing policy changes that will benefit all those engaging with mental health services. A particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups should be incorporated with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination'.

Therefore the Oversight Group proposes that policy changes will benefit all those engaging with mental health services. The Terms of Reference for the Group place a particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups, including the Traveller community, which will be incorporated into the final report with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination. As a result, the report will not include a 'traveller specific' section.

I expect to table the final report for discussion in Dáil Éireann when the policy is finalised.

Terms of Reference for Oversight Group

A Vision for Change - Part II

1. Review and update the existing mental health policy A Vision for Change(2006) having regard to the Expert Evidence Review of international best practice, progress on current service developments in Ireland and the requirement of the Public Spending Code, with a particular focus on:

(a)primary prevention, early intervention and positive mental health, including having regard to the work underway with the Pathfinder Project and the Youth Mental Health Taskforce;

(b)integration of care and delivery systems between primary and secondary services taking account of the move to appropriate 24/7 service supports;

(c)development of E mental health responses;

(d)workforce planning, forecasting and skill-mix including mechanisms to attract and retain staff within existing national HR policy;

(e)emerging needs of vulnerable groups, people with co-morbidities and specialist needs informed by the relevant clinical programmes; and

(f)development of research, data and evaluation capability to ensure achievement of best mental health outcomes can be demonstrated with the resources available.

(g)proposing policy changes that will benefit allthose engaging with mental health services. A particular emphasis on social inclusion and the needs of vulnerable groups should be incorporated with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination.

2. Identify and consult on cross-sectoral and cross-societal responsibilities in the context of (1) above.

3. Align as far as possible the refreshed policy with existing national policies and implementation arrangements that have been developed since the publication of A Vision for Change(2006).

4. Conduct a consultative process with key stakeholders to inform proposals.

5. Produce, for submission to the Department of Health, an updated draft policy framework which sets out current and future service priorities within a time-bound implementation plan, for consideration by Government as a successor policy to A Vision for Change(2006).

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In accordance with the Public Spending Code, all Irish public bodies are obliged to treat public funds with care, and to ensure that the best possible value-for-money is obtained whenever public money is being spent or invested. The Public Spending Code imposes obligations, at all stages of the project/programme life-cycle, with the stages of the project defined as follows:

- Appraisal: assessing the case for a policy intervention

- Planning/Design: a positive appraisal should lead on to a considered approach to designing how the project/programme will be implemented

- Implementation: careful management and oversight is required for both capital and current expenditure. Ongoing evaluation should also be a feature of current programmes

- Post-Project or Post-Implementation Review: checking for delivery of project objectives, and gaining experience for future projects.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 26 February 2019, the way in which the annual spend by the HSE for targeted measures to improve the health of the Traveller community is allocated, in tabular form; and the portion of the funding allocated annually specifically to deliver on suicide prevention services and supports. [10770/19]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.