Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2564. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether a special task force might address the shortcomings in the mental health services with particular reference to the need to provide for those seeking institutional care or specific treatment not currently readily available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38122/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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All aspects of mental health services will be improved and developed, through implementation of the national mental health policy Sharing the Vision, which aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.

This policy was developed following a process of research into international best practice, mental health service innovation and an extensive national consultation of over 1,000 service users, family members, friends and carers and other stakeholders.

The work of the Work Research Centre (Expert Evidence Review) strongly informed this process. In addition, relevant mental health recommendations in other Government policies, including Connecting for Lifeand the report of the Youth Mental Health Taskforce, were also considered. Additionally, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care published a final report in October 2018, which outlined various recommendations in mental health service improvements. The recommendations of this report also contributed to the development of this policy.

The implementation monitoring of Sharing the Visionis being driven by the National Implementation Monitoring Committee (NIMC) which was established in December 2020 and is independently chaired by Mr John Saunders. The NIMC is made up of the NIMC Steering Committee, which will be supported by an NIMC Reference Group of Service Users and Families and NIMC Specialist Groups. I am satisfied that the Committee is developing appropriate monitoring and oversight processes and structures.

To date, the NIMC Steering Committee has held seven monthly business meetings, with approved minutes of Steering Committee meetings available on the Department of Health website.

The HSE has primary responsibility for the implementation of the majority of the Sharing the Vision recommendations. To that end, the HSE Implementation Group (HIG), which reports to the NIMC Steering Committee, has been established and is meeting regularly, with an initial focus on Acute Inpatient Bed capacity, and CAMHS service improvement. A Specialist Group on Acute Bed Capacity (Bed Review) will be established this year under NIMC.

There are a number of recommendations in Sharing the Visionwhich are designed to improve access and quality of care, including the continued development of mental health clinical programmes, which are being prioritised for implementation by the NIMC and the HIG.

The Department of Health considers that the process that led to the finalisation of this policy was very comprehensive as regards research and broad stakeholder consultation. Moreover, there are comprehensive implementation monitoring and implementation structures in place or in development that will progress the change promised by Sharing the Visionas areas of mental health service provision.

Therefore, the Department of Health believes that a special taskforce on mental health services is not warranted at this stage. The focus of this Department with the HSE is on progressing whole-of-sector improvements through the implementation of Sharing the Vision and continuing to support the work of the NIMC.