Seanad debates

Wednesday, 16 April 2003

Central Mental Hospital: Motion.

 

As Senator Henry indicated, the services provided in Dundrum are vital and a recent report has recognised the need to have the facilities upgraded. Since 1999, just €500,000 has been pumped into its maintenance, which is a small amount of money considering that the facility houses some 70 to 80 people and that some 160 people are admitted there on an annual basis. The facilities are in need of funding and I call on the Minister of State to consider providing it. I do not necessarily believe in the concept of ring-fencing in this case because a project team in place, which is going through the design and redevelopment of the unit. To ring-fence the money now, would effectively leave it aside when it could be better used or at least used in advance. I am sure Senator Henry would agree and I would like to see is a commitment that, when the design team has got to a point of making a recommendation and we get ready to build such a facility—

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