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Gnáthamharc

Mental Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004

Tuesday, 30 March 2004

Ceisteanna (260)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

373 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the methods his Department intends to use to overcome the grave concerns of senior professional personnel in correspondence (details supplied); the solution his Department can offer to overcome these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9752/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In the period 1999 to date additional revenue funding of almost €80 million has been invested in the development of our mental health services. The funding provided has been used for on-going developments in mental health services, to develop and expand community mental health services, to increase child and adolescent services, to expand the old age psychiatric services, to provide liaison psychiatry services to general hospitals and to enhance the support provided to voluntary agencies. The total revenue spend on mental health services in 2004 will be in excess of €650 million.

The expert group on mental health policy was established in August 2003 to prepare a new national policy framework for the mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document Planning for the Future. The group consists of 18 widely experienced people who are serving in their personal capacity. The membership encompasses a wide range of knowledge and a balance of views on many issues affecting the performance and delivery of care in our mental health services. All areas of mental health policy and service provision, including the funding of the service, will be examined in the course of the group's review.

As responsibility for the Kildare and west Wicklow mental health service rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, my Department has asked the regional chief executive to investigate the matters raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

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