Vol. 563 No. 4
468 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he intends to draw up a national mental health strategy; if his attention has been drawn to the survey of psychiatric services carried out by the Irish Psychiatric Association entitled The Stark Facts; and his views on the findings of that survey. [7977/03]
The health strategy Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You included a commitment to prepare a new national policy framework for the further mod ernisation of mental health services. Work on this framework is expected to begin later this year. I acknowledge that the findings of the report The Stark Facts highlight areas of genuine concern with the mental health services. However, it must be acknowledged that funding for the mental health services overall has increased significantly in recent years.
