Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank Senator Henry for introducing this motion, which I support. Comments have been made about the Office of Public Works which, I accept, has carried out many great projects around the country. However, the Office of Public Works has squandered vast financial resources over many years. In some instances, there is a strong case for public private partnerships involving the Office of Public Works which currently has five or six sites for sale. Although I have never been to an asylum, I have visited a prison. Castlerea Prison is regarded as one of the most modern, compassionate prisons and is supposed to be drug free.

I am trying to visualise the situation in the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, and I have been informed that Mountjoy Prison is a hundred times worse. I find it difficult to make an accurate comparison with the asylum. Senators have described it as a 19th century building where a 21st century building is required. The inmates have no social partnership representation, no vocal lobby and no friend in Cabinet. As public representatives, we have certain responsibilities. As Senator Henry rightly stated, all of us may have our own views as to how money should be allocated. In this instance, however, the required funding is relatively minimal and should be ring-fenced for the Central Mental Hospital.

The Government may have put plans in place but those plans have been allowed to remain in abeyance indefinitely. If we expect any compassion or forgiveness for our neglect of the people in the institution in question over the years, I urge that we now ring-fence the funding in accordance with Senator Henry's proposal. If we can have agreement on one matter as the Seanad approaches its Easter recess, I hope it will be on the basis of support for Senator Henry's motion.