204 Deputy Tom Kitt asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the recommendations, in both the 1992 Green Paper on Mental Health and the 1996 White Paper A New Mental Health Act, that the new legislation should include a framework for the provision of community mental health services. [10056/10]

205 Deputy Tom Kitt asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on examining the possibility of legislation providing a framework for access to community mental health services; the position regarding the examination within her Department; the reason there has been no progress on this for more than a decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10057/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The Mental Health Act 2001 provides a modern framework for the admission and treatment of persons with a mental disorder. The Act is due to be reviewed in 2011 and the need for any provisions in relation to community-based mental health services, will be among the issues to be considered in that context.