James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place for the sale of a hospital (details supplied); if the funds raised by the sale will be used for improving mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4908/17]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My question is on the plans in place for the sale of St. Senan's Hospital and whether the funds raised will be used to improve mental health services.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has recently offered the property and farmland at St. Senan's Hospital in Enniscorthy for sale in two lots. Lot 1 comprises the vacant building which is about 130,000 sq. ft., or 12,077 sq. m., in size and circa 45 acres. Lot 1 will be sold by private treaty. Lot 2 comprises about 44 acres of land and will be auctioned unless previously sold. Given its unusual size, previous use and layout, It is difficult to identify what a recovering property market will pay for these lots. However, the guidelines published online and by the HSE set out that lot 1 has a guide price of €780,000 and lot 2 has a guide price of €63,000.

New replacement accommodation has already been delivered for all the mental health care services provided previously from St. Senan's and the delivery of health services has been discontinued at the St. Senan's site. The use of the sales proceeds from these disposals will be subject to sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is intended that the proceeds of the sale of this property will be invested in much needed mental health and other facilities. Details will be devised and agreed in the context of overall capital plans.

Between 2011 and 2016, about €23 million has been raised by the HSE from the sale of surplus assets, which was €2 million to €6.8 million depending on the year. With significant additional funding from the Exchequer, sanction was obtained from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to invest these proceeds in mental facilities, including new builds, refurbishments and upgrades. That sets a precedent. As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I will advocate that any funds raised from the sale of St. Senan's will be invested back in mental health accommodation rather than in service delivery.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am somewhat comforted by some of what the Minister of State said. St. Senan's Hospital was built in 1868 and has been an iconic building in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, in and of itself as well as for staff, patients and their families over the last 150 years. It was closed down as part of A Vision for Change on the understanding that the facilities would be put into the community. There was also an understanding that an emergency unit would be placed in either Enniscorthy or Wexford town as part of the emergency department. It is critical but also it would be a fitting tribute to those who served as staff as well as to patients and their families that the money would be ring-fenced for mental health. That would also be in line with previous promises that the money would be kept in Wexford. It would provide additional accommodation for those who need access to emergency services for which they currently have to travel to Waterford or up to Wicklow. For a county of 150,000 people and a further summer population of 150,000, those services are needed.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy outlined, recommendations were made under A Vision for Change to close St. Senan's. Following that, huge investment was made in the county of approximately €11.5 million which has resulted in a 50-bed mental health community nursing home on the grounds of Wexford General Hospital, a 13-place high support mental health hostel in Melview House, Enniscorthy and a ten-bed crisis housing facility in Enniscorthy to add to various other facilities. Recently, I visited Wexford with Deputy Browne and my colleagues, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Michael D'Arcy, and the local council. I also met with staff in Tower House, a new mental health facility representing a further €3.5 million investment through the local authority and also the vocational education committee. Much work is going on and a lot of services have been provided. I agree that there needs to be continued investment in the area. As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I intend that any assets sold off results in the funding going back directly into mental health.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome those words because there is a lot of anger and frustration even though many facilities have been put in Wexford by the previous Fianna Fáil Government and the previous Fine Gael-Labour Party Government. I appreciate the Minister of State's intentions. However, an emergency department is desperately needed down in Wexford. While the Minister of State cannot answer for the Department of Education and Skills, I ask that the Department of Health and the HSE are open to convincing the Department of Education and Skills to purchase the property for use as a second or third level education facility. It would be fitting for the town of Enniscorthy and the county of Wexford that the building would remain in public use for the further benefit of the local community.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We need to keep our options open here. Lot 1 will be sold by private treaty and the property will be auctioned off. We still do not know what the outcome of that will be.

We are talking about providing services across the board, not just in County Wexford, on a 24-7 basis.

The HSE is developing a plan as to what a 24-7 service would look like. We know that out of the 17 mental health areas, nine have full seven day a week services and seven have partial seven day a week services. The gaps need to be identified in order for a 24-7 service to be rolled out.

I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is important that we continue to invest, not just in developing our services and staff but in our facilities, in order to make mental health a priority.