Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

Some people in the House recognise that many mental health services have had the benefit of a legacy budget associated with a large institutional base. However, the service in this part of the city has not had this advantage and, as a result, all resources require additional allocation from the central Exchequer.

It is intended to create a day hospital and sector headquarters for this area and a site has been identified by the South Western Area Health Board for this purpose. The service has four consultant-led teams and works in close collaboration with the specialist service of psychiatry of old age and St. James's Hospital. A new consultant-led team has been allocated to this service to cater for the needs of clients in the Drimnagh area. I mention that specifically as the Deputy mentioned Drimnagh, although not in his Adjournment matter.

On capital funding, the Eastern Regional Health Authority will be investing proceeds from the sale of the lands at St. Loman's Hospital into the development of the mental health services on the St. Loman's site and in other locations in the South Western Area Health Board.

I suggest to Deputy Ó Snodaigh that he should contact the chief executive of the South Western Area Health Board. He or his assistant chief executive will make themselves available. I would like the Deputy to come back to me, if he is happy and satisfied, with the proposals and plans it has for the Deputy's area. I assure him that further development of our mental health services, including those in the South Western Area Health Board area, will be considered in the context of the Estimates process for 2005 and subsequent years.

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