Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2012
19 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health when the promised appointment will be made to the position of director of mental health services in view of the fact that a comprehensive and detailed plan must be formulated to allocate the committed €35 million for the implementation of the recommendations contained in A Vision for Change. [8498/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health announced last December that he had secured Government approval for the preparation of legislation which would abolish the Board of the HSE and replace it with a new transitional governance structure. The Minister also announced that, in tandem with the proposed new legal structures, new administrative structures would be put in place within the HSE which would reflect the need for greater operational management focus on the delivery of key services, and greater transparency about funding, service delivery and accountability. This will involve appointing a number of directors at national level in charge of public health, primary care, hospital care, social care, mental health, and children and family services. The main function of the mental health director will be to develop clearer funding and commissioning systems governing the delivery of mental health services as appropriate in the primary, acute and social care settings. Arrangements for the structures, including the selection and appointment of the new directors, are being developed by the Department and the HSE.
