Mary Henry (Independent)

I am in despair. The Minister of State said that these "plans will be subject to the approval of the Department of Health and Children and to the necessary capital funding being available." They will not; they will be subject to the Department of Finance. We must start a fund which will be specifically allocated to the hospital because we repeatedly hear from the Minister for Finance that he does not have a bob. If we do not do something about it, we will not get anywhere. Why do we not start a fund for the Central Mental Hospital? I urge the Minister of State to reconsider the position.

On the previous occasion on which we debated this issue, Senator Ryan said that the Government would not get any praise if it gave money to the Central Mental Hospital and it would not get any blame if it did not. That is the truth. We must do something and leave the Minister for Finance out on a limb. I thank the Minister of State for his reply, but he is as impotent as me in respect of this matter. We must start a fund. Perhaps we could start a charity.