Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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594. To ask the Minister for Health if there will be a Traveller mental health strategy developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43420/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, sets out a whole-of-population approach to mental health service delivery. The policy's objective is to deliver interventions that meet the individual needs of a service user, regardless of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background. The policy recognises that priority groups, including the Traveller community, may need tailored interventions, including targeted campaigns, preventive outreach work and the provision of services that recognise and respond to diversity. This includes the development of culturally competent services and supports. This will be achieved in partnership with organisations working with priority groups, to increase effectiveness and impact.

Minister Butler recently met with the National Traveller Mental Health Network regarding Sharing the Vision. It was agreed that, as a representative group of the Traveller and Roma community, it would participate in the implementation structures of the new policy.

The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC), which is tasked with responsibility for driving implementation of Sharing the Vision, comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, (which held its inaugural meeting on 11^thDecember) and an associated Specialist Group Panel. Of the nominees sought from organisations representing the Traveller community, including the National Traveller Mental Health Network, six individuals were appointed to the Specialist Group Panel.

In addition, The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing health and other needs of Travellers and Roma. It contains over 30 health-related actions in four themes. The Department of Health and the HSE are represented on the steering committee for NTRIS and report on a regular basis on the various health actions.

The Department of Health, in conjunction with the HSE, supports a range of targeted initiatives, programmes and supports to improve the health status of Travellers and Roma. These include:

- primary healthcare projects, counselling services, family support programmes, men's health projects and dedicated public health nurses and related staff;

- mental health promotion and suicide prevention services provided in a culturally sensitive manner, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

In November 2020, Connecting for Life, the national suicide reduction strategy was extended for a further four years from 2020 to 2024. The extension will allow for further implementation of the strategy comprising targeted approaches for those vulnerable to suicide, including members of the Traveller community.

The HSE employs a number of public health nurses and related staff to address priority health needs for members of the Traveller community. In addition, each Community Health Organisation employs a Traveller’s Mental Health Service coordinator, who is responsible for the implementation of agreed improvement programmes and projects specifically aimed at the Traveller community.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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595. To ask the Minister for Health if there will be a Traveller representative on the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43421/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision.The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.

The purpose of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel will be to drive reconfiguration, monitor progress against outcomes and deliver on the commitments set out in the Policy.

The Steering Committee will work with partners to evaluate performance, check overall progress and gather information on examples of good practice as informed by national and international research.

In addition, the purpose of the NIMC Specialist Group Panel is to provide specialist input at various points in the implementation of the Policy, including being a member of specific themed specialist groups, as envisaged in the Policy.

The Department of Health requested nominations representative of different grades and professions from a number of different organisations, including advocacy groups and voluntary and community organisations, across the mental health sector. Letters requesting nominations to the NIMC Steering Committee/Specialist Group Panel issued in mid-November.

In December, a shortlist of nominees was presented to the Minister from which she selected and appointed members to the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel. Of the nominees sought from organisations representing the Traveller Community, six individuals were appointed to the Specialist Group Panel.

It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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596. To ask the Minister for Health the representatives appointed to the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43418/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision.The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.

It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation.

The membership of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel represents a broad and diverse spectrum of mental health professionals and advocates, including people with lived experience, all of whom are highly qualified and bring considerable expertise to the NIMC.

The full list of membership of the NIMC Steering Committee is attached for the Deputy’s consideration.

NIMC Steering Committee

Mr. John Saunders (Chair)

Ms Fiona Coyle, Advocacy Expert

Ms Aisling Culhane, Psychiatric Nurse

Ms Kerry Cuskelly, Social Worker

Mr. Maurice Dillon, Occupational Therapist

Dr. Joseph Duffy, Psychologist and Youth Mental Health Services Expert

Dr. Daniel Flynn, Psychologist

Dr. Siobhan MacHale, Psychiatrist (Adult/Older persons)

Mr. Dave Maguire, Department of Health Lead

Mr. John Meehan, HSE

Dr. Amir Niazi, HSE National Clinical Lead

Dr. Brian Osborne, GP

Ms Caroline Pigott, Department of Health Sláintecare Lead

Mr. Ian Power, Youth Mental Health Expert

Mr. Jim Ryan, HSE

Mr. Michael Ryan, HSE Mental Health Engagement

Dr. Anne Marie Waldron, Psychiatrist (CAMHS).

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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597. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a service can nominate a person to the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43419/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision. The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.

The Department of Health requested nominations representative of different professions and experience from a number of different organisations across the mental health sector, including advocacy, community and voluntary groups. Letters requesting nominations to the NIMC Steering Committee/Specialist Group Panel issued in mid-November.

In December, a shortlist of nominees was presented to the Minister from which she selected and appointed members to the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel. The term of office for this NIMC will be three years. The inaugural meeting of the NIMC Steering Committee took place on Friday 11 December 2020.

It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation, including their nominating organisation.

The membership of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel represents a broad and diverse spectrum of mental health professionals, experts & advocates, including people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, all of whom are highly qualified and bring considerable expertise to the policy's implementation structures.