Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 January 2012
821 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail per service provider and geographic area the way he intends to spend the €35 million earmarked for the development of community mental health services in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40833/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra822 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a Directorate for Mental Health Services with full budgetary authority and accountability for the provision of mental health services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40834/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra837 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he is committed to putting in place a directorate for mental health services with full budgetary authority and accountability. [40906/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra910 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the reason the €35 million investment in mental health services is now split three ways and not the originally intended purposes of developing community mental health teams and funding reach out as per the Programme for Government; the proportion of the €35 million that is going to these originally intended purposes; if he will provide a explanation of the meaning of mental health priorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41392/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra911 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the safeguards and monitoring procedures in place to ensure that the €35 million investment will be used for the development of community mental health services. [41393/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 821, 822, 837, 910 and 911 together.
A special allocation of €35m for mental health was announced in Budget 2012 in line with the Programme for Government commitments. Details of how this funding will be apportioned are still being worked on in the context of the HSE's draft National Service Plan (NSP) for 2012 which is currently under consideration by the Minister. Final decisions in relation to funding of individual care programmes will become clear when the Minister approves the NSP for 2012 in accordance with the Health Act 2004.
Funding from the special allocation for mental health will be used primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both Adult and Children's mental health services. It is intended that the additional resources will be rolled out in conjunction with a scheme of appropriate clinical care programmes based on an early intervention and a recovery approach. Some of the funding will also be used to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention and response to self-harm presentations and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care specifically for people with mental health problems. Some provision will also be made to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with Vision for Change. Mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that the funding is spent only for the purposes for which it is specified in the HSE Service Plan.
Deputies will be aware that the Government has already approved the drafting of legislation to give effect to changes in the governance of the HSE. This involves radical reform of the health service generally which will see the introduction of Universal Health Insurance (UHI). Significantly the new system of governance will involve seven Directorates, including a separate Directorate for Mental Health which will have full responsibility and accountability in that area. In this context, my colleague Minister Reilly intends to bring forward detailed proposals at a later date for the re-organisation of the HSE at directorate, regional and local levels in a manner which facilitates a smooth transition from the current governance arrangements to the proposed new structures.
