Minister: Mental health plan at risk

MINISTER John Moloney said there would not be “any point” being in his position next year if the Government does not provide adequate funding for implementing long-awaited recommendations on mental health.

Speaking before the Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday, The Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health said the Government’s “Vision for Change” programme would be imperilled unless sufficient funding is provided to implement its recommendations.

The central plank of change in the mental health area would be the sale of existing psychiatric hospitals over the next five years, with the money ring-fenced to provide new facilities and the development of services.