DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time: 10:40
Sitting Date: 30/03/2011

Leaders' Questions

Deputy Finian McGrath: I wish to change track for a few minutes.  A major crisis faces the people on the issue of mental health and suicide. I would like to focus my questions to the Taoiseach today so as to ensure action on this priority issue. Suicide is a growing problem in Ireland with approximately 400 deaths per year. Given that suicide rates have increased by 24% and self-harm rates by 11%, I ask the Taoiseach to make this a priority issue in the Government's health plans.

What plans does the Taoiseach have to reduce stigma in the mental health area?  Will the Government establish a dedicated executive position within the HSE to be responsible for implementing A Vision for Change?  This should be led by a director of mental health services who has executive powers, an implementation budget and responsibility to report publicly on progress.  Will the Taoiseach publish a comprehensive implementation plan for A Vision for Change, setting out deliverables, a timeline and who is responsible?  Can the Taoiseach commit to increasing funding of mental health services from 5% to 8% of the health budget by 2016 to ensure transparency by ring-fencing an annual mental health budget?  The funding issue should not be allowed to be an obstacle.  This week we discovered that the port tunnel cost €804 million, which was 50% higher than its budget.

I ask the Taoiseach to enact legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities and bind public and private sector employers, and service providers with regard to the principles in A Vision for Change.