Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I, too, congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, on his appointment and wish him well. I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity to raise the issue of the proposals for the Central Mental Hospital. This matter was brought to my attention by the parent of a patient — I use the word patient, not prisoner — of the Central Mental Hospital. It was suggested that the proposal to move the hospital will have implications for patients currently in the care of health professionals working under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children. This parent, rightly, put a strong, plausible, understanding case to me with the reasons she does not want her son to be ensconced in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform or the prison system. The patient in question has particular difficulties that are recognised by the State and appropriately treated by staff in the Central Mental Hospital.

I have visited the Central Mental Hospital on several occasions in my capacity as a member of the Eastern Health Board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My understanding is that while the Central Mental Hospital is owned by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science have an interest in part of the land there too. I further understand the HSE deliver a number of services on campus. While I am not familiar with the view of the new Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the proposals for Thornton Hall, I understand the current plans represent departmental policy and I assume the new Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, will continue to pursue this policy.

While the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform may be moving to Thornton Hall, surely it is appropriate that the Minister would take the opportunity revisit the proposal if it involves moving people who avail of a service from another Department, whether that service is provided by the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science or the Health Service Executive? If such an outcome were to result from the proposals, I support the view put to me by a group of parents — including one of my constituents, whose name I will not mention at this stage — concerned about the proposal. Their view is these patients should not be moved. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to revisit the proposal, so that parents of such patients need not spend their energy lobbying politicians? While the case brought to my attention involved the Department of Health and Children, equally if there are people in receipt of a service from the Department of Education and Science or the Health Service Executive that are not deemed to be prisoners, such patients should not be moved either.

When the lady from Clontarf, in my constituency, brought this issue to my attention she was concerned and visibly upset that her son was going to be transferred to a prison site. I am au fait and aware of the tremendous work, the sizable commitment and the challenges facing those working in the Central Mental Hospital as I have previously visited the site when I was a member of the Eastern Health Board. The work there is challenging and difficult.

I look forward to the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran's response, although I do not wish to put him on the spot, as he was only appointed in the past 24 hours. Equally, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is relatively new to the brief, but I suggest it might be opportune to revisit the proposal, especially if it is deemed to be inappropriate. The information available to me suggests that it would be inappropriate to move such people to a prison site.