Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The progress on social and affordable housing has been weak. The Tánaiste should consult the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; I notice he is making considerable progress in one-off housing down the country.

Can the Tánaiste please deal with the question? Is it Government policy to sell off the land surrounding the psychiatric institutions and to dedicate the money to the development of the psychiatric services? That is the specific question. The Tánaiste said she would like to see them being sold off and the resources dedicated to the mental and general services. The Minister of State made a clear announcement and what I am trying to establish is whether it means anything. Is that the purpose for which the lands will be sold off? I gave the example of St. Loman's, where €31 million was realised in the sale and €15 million was dedicated to the services. Why was that the case? Will the Tánaiste do something about it? I cannot believe that seven and a half years later, we are talking about doing an audit. There was no audit done when religious lands were sold off. On the other hand, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has had no difficulty in purchasing lands all around the country for a decentralisation programme more realised in the imagination than in reality. We are to do an audit seven and a half years later. That really is not good enough when people are suffering deprivation in the psychiatric services area. A report, The Stark Facts, produced by the Irish Psychiatric Association shows that resources, including clinical resources, are concentrated in areas that are least deprived. In terms of a service regarded generally as the poor relation of the health services, the areas most deprived of psychiatric services are the poorest areas in the country.

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