Eamon Gilmore
Question:20 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the recently published report from Amnesty International, Mental Illness: the Neglected Quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6640/03]
Written Answers - Mental Health Services.
On 10 February Amnesty International launched its report. It acknowledges the significant advances made here in the provision of community psychiatry, nursing services, community residences, day hospitals and day centres since the publication of the landmark 1984 report, Planning for the Future. In the period 1999-2002 an additional €70.7 million was invested in the mental health services. In the current year additional revenue funding of €7.6 million will be provided for ongoing improvements in mental health services, to develop and expand community mental health services, to increase child and adolescent services, to expand the old age psychiatry services, to provide liaison psychiatry services in general hospitals and to enhance the support provided to voluntary agencies.
Approximately €190 million capital is being provided over the lifetime of the national development plan to fund the development of acute psychiatric units linked to general hospitals, as a replacement of services previously provided in psychiatric hospitals. Substantial progress has already been made. There are now 19 general hospital psychiatric units operational, a further two units will become available to their mental health services in the near future, two are under construction and several others are at various stages of planning.
There are approximately 400 community psychiatric residences here providing over 3,000 places. This compares to 111 residences providing less than 1,000 places in 1984. There are approximately 200 day hospitals-day centres providing over 3,500 places. This compares with 39 such centres providing approximately 1,200 places in 1984.
The report also acknowledges the funding which is being made available by Government to support groups and organisations such as Schizophrenia Ireland, Mental Health Ireland, GROW and Aware to heighten awareness and develop support services for service users and carers.
I particularly welcome the report's recommendation for a comprehensive review of the mental health services, which reflects a commitment in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness, to the development of a new national policy framework on mental health. Work on this review is expected to commence later this year.
In describing the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing mental health services, the report has highlighted the scale of the challenge facing both Government and Irish society as a whole, in seeking to reduce the stigma traditionally associated with mental illness and, by extension, the mental health services.
Last April the Mental Health Commission was established under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2001. It has an important role to play in improving the quality of our mental health services. Its establishment was welcomed by Amnesty International in its report. The commission's primary functions are to promote and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to ensure that the interests of detained persons are protected. It is now working, along with officials from my Department, to put in place the structures required for its new role.
I am committed to improving the quality of care and service delivery in the mental health services. I will seek additional resources for this purpose during my term of office as Minister of State.