Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have every confidence in the commitment and competence of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, who has responsibility in this area. He has displayed a very clear commitment and has engaged very intensively with all stakeholders in the area of mental health. I support him and have been supporting him in every way I can to deal with the question of the historical problem of inappropriate placement. A number of initiatives have taken place which have resulted in modern facilities being provided to assist those who have been inappropriately placed historically and this should continue. The Minister of State has obtained the agreement of the Minister for Finance and the Government in the Estimates rounds for a capital programme that will enable this to happen, by way of the selling-off of existing assets in the health service area. He is very committed in this area and I have every confidence in him to deal with these matters.

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