Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Government made a decision that when the Thornton Hall site was purchased, 20 acres would be set aside for the Central Mental Hospital. There is agreement on both sides of the House that the existing hospital in Dundrum needs to be replaced with a new facility. A project team was established by the Department of Health and Children which recommended that a new site should be located with ready access to the M50. In the Government's opinion, the Thornton Hall site meets that criterion. There will be no extra cost to the Exchequer and the sale of the Dundrum site would release considerable sums for investment in the mental health service, the Cinderella of the health service for many years.

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