Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator McFadden for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the plans for the closure of the remaining old psychiatric hospitals.

As the Senator mentioned, A Vision for Change is the report of the expert group on mental heath policy. It provides a framework for action to develop modern, high quality mental health services over a seven to ten-year period. The Government has accepted the recommendations of the report which, when implemented, will overhaul the existing mental health services and provide community-based interventions that are accessible and effective in promoting recovery and reintegration.

The report recommended that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up and implemented and that the funds realised by the closures be reinvested in the new mental health infrastructure. The Health Service Executive has disposed of a small number of psychiatric properties to date and the funds realised have been surrendered to the Exchequer. The Department of Health and Children recently received a submission from the HSE outlining the projects it considers should be funded from these disposals and it will pursue these proposals with the Department of Finance. The Department of Health and Children will seek also to agree an overall approach on the extent and timing of property disposals with the aim of facilitating the modernisation of the mental health infrastructure.

The closure of the old psychiatric hospitals, the realisation of their asset value and the reassignment of staff from the hospital to community settings is key to the implementation of A Vision for Change. Concerns have been expressed that the closure programme has been delayed unnecessarily. However, we must realise and recognise that no hospital can close until the needs of all the remaining patients have been addressed in more appropriate settings, such as additional community residences, day hospitals and day centres, and the necessary community-based, multi-disciplinary community mental health teams have been established.

The Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, visited St. Loman's Hospital last month to check on progress in respect of the proposed closure. He was assured that the reconfiguration of the St. Loman's campus, which currently accommodates 119 patients, is the single highest priority for the HSE local office. He was informed also that a development control plan for the hospital has been finalised. In the plan there is provision for appropriate accommodation for all those patients still remaining in St. Loman's Hospital. Briefs for the provision of this alternative accommodation have been drawn up in consultation with staff. In line with national policy, the phased relocation of patients to more appropriate community-based facilities has commenced.

Although psychiatric hospitals were the mainstay of mental health services in Ireland for many years, the type of person-centred, recovery-oriented care recommended in A Vision for Change cannot be provided in such large institutions. The focal point of modern mental health services is the community, and developing a community-based service is the way forward. I, therefore, assure the Senator that the Government is fully committed to the closure of the old psychiatric hospitals, which I stress will be completed only when the needs of all remaining patients have been appropriately addressed.