James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply, and acknowledge the fact that he was not in charge of this portfolio for much of the duration of the pain and suffering that people have had to endure in these institutions and acute psychiatric admission units. The Minister to his right, however, has persisted with the policy of co-located hospitals, particularly at Beaumont, which impinges on the site which had the original planning permission for a new unit to replace the one at St. Ita's. This unit, I remind the House, has an open ward with 23 men on one side and another open ward with 23 women on the other, with a bank of three toilets, one shower and a bath on each ward. This is no way to treat people in 2010.

Would the Minister of State not consider, given the abject failure of the co-located hospital policy, using the original site at Beaumont Hospital - for which planning permission was obtained at some considerable cost - and proceed without any further delay to build the unit as provided for under that planning permission?

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