Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
868. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review of the Mental Health Act 2001 and the subsequent commitment to replace and-or review the A Vision for Change policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30873/15]
View answerThe Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was published in March this year. The report contains 165 recommendations, and in particular emphasised the need to move from the often paternalistic interpretation of the existing legislation, to one where insofar as is possible, the individual has the final say in what he/she deems to be in his/her best interests and receives the best quality of service required to attain the highest standard of mental health. It also includes provisions which are intended to strengthen the protections for people who are detained without consent in approved centres.
I have received Government approval for the drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill to amend the existing legislation to reflect the recommendations of the Expert Group and work in the Department is progressing on these important amendments. In addition, I have also received approval for an early change to the legislation in respect of the administration of Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the administration of medicine.In both cases, the existing legislation will be amended to remove the authority to give ECT or medicine (after 3 months) without consent in any circumstances where the patient is capable of giving consent but unwilling to do so. I plan to have a Bill before the Oireachtas this term to enact these amendments.
'A Vision for Change, which was published in 2006, provides a seven-to-ten year framework for the development of our mental health services. Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform and resourcing of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change.Additional funding totalling €125 million has been provided primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, and forensic mental health services. Implementation of Vision is ongoing and work is being undertaken during 2015 to prioritise outstanding actions informing the identification of any gaps in service. Preliminary work on the development of a successor policy to A Vision for Change is underway and the parameters of a review will be agreed shortly.
