Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
466. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on the establishment of a youth mental health pathfinder team under section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. [23421/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposal to establish a cross-governmental youth mental health Pathfinder team with participation from the Department of Health, the Department of Education & Skills and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs has Civil Service Management Board and Ministerial approval.
The proposal is to formalise a new model for collaborative working within Government on a statutory footing by utilising section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. This section of the 1997 Act has never been used before. Various administrative, budgetary, governance and legal arrangements need to be put in place to ensure a robust and workable model for the Pathfinder unit.
The Department of Health has engaged extensively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and as a result the participating Departments will consider a number of implementation options that address the above issues.
At the end of last month I had a constructive meeting with Minister Donohoe and his officials. They are very supportive of the proposal, subject to resolving the outstanding matters. I hope to make substantial progress on the matter in the coming months.
