James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Forgive me, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but I thought we had a long debate in this House about how we did not consider that Thornton Hall was an appropriate site although the Government was intent on making it the site. Clearly it has now moved position and I welcome that. I equally welcome the fact that we need to fast-track a new central mental hospital. However our interpretation of the word "fast" when it comes to central mental hospitals or co-locations seems to be at variance with one another.

It was recently reported in the newspapers that the Central Mental Hospital is no longer in a position to take new admissions because it is so full. Would the Government consider proceeding with the original plan the Central Mental Hospital had for using the existing grounds in the area to build a new facility which would overcome many of the difficulties and issues which had been originally raised by Schizophrenia Ireland, Friends of the CMH and Amnesty International, to mention but a few from a long list?

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