Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her view on the findings of the Inspector of Mental Health Services who stated in her 2007 annual report that she has serious concerns regarding the conditions of long-stay wards in psychiatric hospitals, that the recruitment embargo has greatly impeded the development of mental health services and that there has been little progress in implementing A Vision for Change; if, in view of the development of a quality national mental health service, she will reconsider the decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital to Thornton Hall in view of expert opinion and have it reconstructed on the current grounds of the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22489/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I share the concerns of the Inspector of Mental Health Services regarding conditions in the long-stay wards of some psychiatric hospitals. I point out in this regard that capital funding of €145 million was provided and expended on the upgrading of mental health facilities under the National Development Plan 2000 to 2007 and additional funding of €20 million per annum will be provided from the new plan in the period 2008 to 2011.

A Vision for Change, the report of the expert group on mental health policy, recommends that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals be drawn up and implemented and that the resources released by these closures be protected for reinvestment in the mental health service. Work is advancing nationally on the process of replacing the remaining psychiatric hospitals with a range of modern health services. I expect that closure plans for existing psychiatric hospitals will be put in place by the end of 2008. These plans will have due regard to the preferences and the assessed needs of each patient. I also understand that a comprehensive programme for the valuation and sale of mental health facilities is currently in progress. Revenue raised from these sales will be directed towards improving mental health services.

The recruitment pause put in place in September 2007 was initiated as part of the HSE financial break-even plan to facilitate the delivery of services on budget in accordance with the provisions of the 2007 national service plan. This temporary pause in recruitment ended just three months later on 31 December 2007 and any posts falling vacant from 1 January 2008 can be filled, subject to the provisions of the HSE employment control framework for 2008.

With regard to the implementation of A Vision for Change, the position is that the HSE recently approved an implementation plan which sets out six key priorities for 2008 and 2009. Following concerns raised by the Office for Disability and Mental Health regarding the need for a longer-term focus, the HSE has indicated that it will prepare a more comprehensive plan before the end of this year.

A Government decision in May 2006 approved the development of a new national forensic mental health facility at Thornton Hall, north County Dublin. The new hospital will provide a therapeutic, forensic psychiatric service to the highest international standards. The decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital is consistent with A Vision for Change. In the circumstances, there are no proposals to revisit the Government decision of May 2006.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment as this is his first time to answer questions in the House. I wish him well.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his good wishes.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State must be extremely concerned and appalled at the recently published report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services showing the unacceptable squalor that many psychiatric patients live in while the mental health services and the HSE are sitting on billions of euro worth of property, which the Minister of State has again committed to sell on behalf of the health services. In 2006, over €1.3 million worth of health service property was sold and €776,000 worth was sold the following year, but all of the proceeds of the sales were surrendered to the Exchequer and nothing was reclaimed to fund developments in the psychiatric service.

The inspector stated that the condition of our psychiatric services was poor, to put it mildly, as was the structural fabric of the hospitals. She stated it was a running battle to keep ahead of damp, mould, falling plaster and peeling paint and that the funding needed to maintain these hospitals is considerable. Does the Minister of State accept it is not acceptable that the most vulnerable people are forced to live in these conditions? The commitments made since 1984 by various Ministers have not been implemented. Given that there are no further funds for the introduction of A Vision for Change this year, how can we have confidence that something will be done?

The problems filling the multidisciplinary teams and the vacancies that occurred had an enormous effect on the delivery of services in 2007, according to the inspector. The problem is that the vacancies that occurred between September and October are not being filled.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have also read the report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services, which was published on 29 May. I am in this job three weeks and I give a full commitment that, whatever has happened before, I intend pushing forward immediately with the sale of lands and properties owned by the HSE. I do not intend to travel just for the sake of travelling. The hospitals outlined specifically in the report need to be sold off. I have asked the officials of the Department to draw up a current list of valuations.

I intend to invite the Oireachtas Members who represent the specific areas to a meeting in Leinster House this month to get their public support for selling those properties. I accept the views expressed in the report with regard to the need to move from the old days — some of these institutions have been there for 150 years — and to build proper modern facilities. I intend to progress this and I will not make a report on progress next year or the year after, but on a six-monthly basis.

Not all of the expressions in the commission's report are bad news and it is important to note the report is broadly positive. I recognise not just the fact that facilities are poor, but also the positive structures which are moving us to a situation where we are doing what is right for people who suffer mental health difficulties. The report highlights the significant changes that have occurred following the full implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001 and it makes the point that this includes the independent review system for those admitted involuntarily, which is important. We had looked for this process for years but the tribunals are now in place. All of these matters are positive.

I ask that rather than being critical of what has happened, let us move forward on a positive note. Following the meeting with Oireachtas Members, I intend to invite in all of the stakeholders, as the Minister, Deputy Harney, did in the area of cancer. We can progress, evaluate and realise the valuable assets we have. I give the following specific commitment. What is raised in this area will go specifically and only into mental health.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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In view of the concern and the round rejection by all concerned with forensic medicine of the move of the Central Mental Hospital to Thornton Hall, will the Minister of State revisit this matter? There is overwhelming expert opinion with regard to locating a therapeutic centre beside a custodial prison.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I want to be direct in all my answers. I have no intention whatsoever of reviewing that. The Deputy asked me some minutes ago how we were to implement A Vision for Change and what we were going to do for the psychiatric services. The nonsense that we are talking about a prison and a hospital in the very same setting could not be further from the truth. It is two separate approaches and two separate roads. More importantly, if we are talking about scarce resources, the sale of Dundrum would realise €350 million and the building of a hospital would cost €150 million. The balance of €200 million will be invested in exactly what the Deputy is seeking. I am as concerned about the patient as anybody else. If the Deputy is blaming——

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Everybody, including international opinion, says it is wrong.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am trying to answer the question. On the one hand, the Deputy is blaming Government for not initiating change.

On the other hand, I am criticised when I try to do that.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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I am consistent in discussing the position of patients.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am also being consistent.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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They do not agree.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have every confidence in the ability and expertise of the medical staff in Dundrum——

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Then listen to them.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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——and I am certain they will put the patient at the centre——

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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They already have.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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——just as I do. In regard to wasting time on revisiting Government decisions, I fully intend to implement this policy and I am putting the funding we can secure from the sale of the Dundrum lands into the same basket as other properties we will sell throughout the country. I hope we receive the support of the public in ensuring patients come first.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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That is what we want.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to be associated with the congratulations to the Minister of State on his recent appointment on which I wish him well.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I do likewise.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Acting Chairman and Deputy Reilly. Long may it last.