I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 175 together.
Substantial resources are invested in mental health services; overall spending on mental health services in 2007 amounted to €1 billion, and this level of funding continued into 2008 and 2009. The estimated additional cost of the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change' the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy is €150m over 7 — 10 years. Development funding totalling €51.2m was allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007, some of which was diverted because of core budgetary pressures; however I am advised by the HSE that 94% of the €51.2m will be in place before the end of 2009. Funding will be provided in 2009 for the recruitment of 35 therapy posts for the child and adolescent mental health service. In addition, once-off funding of €1.75m will be provided for suicide prevention initiatives and for mental health projects supporting service users and carers.
It should be noted that the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change' is not solely dependent on the provision of additional funding; implementation is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources. ‘A Vision for Change' envisions an active, flexible and community-based mental health service, with a greatly reduced need for hospital admissions.
The Report also recommended that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up and implemented, and that the resources released by these closures should be re-invested in the new mental health service infrastructure requirement. The Departments of Finance and Health and Children have agreed in principle to the release of the proceeds of the disposal of properties prior to 2006 for reinvestment in mental health capital development. The arrangements for property disposal require Department of Finance approval in each case, the lodging of the proceeds as Exchequer Extra Receipts and the re-Voting of the funds for approved projects. Disposals to date amount to over €42m and a submission detailing the priority projects to be funded from these disposals and planned future disposals is expected to be made by the HSE, for consideration by my Department and the Department of Finance, within the coming months. It is envisaged that this submission will provide an opportunity to achieve overall agreement on the extent and timing of property disposals to facilitate the modernisation of the mental health infrastructure.