John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his contribution and do not wish to give a cosy response to him on the position in Wexford. The commitments I have given on hospital closures, including St. Senan's Hospital, are based on the sale of lands within the mental health system. We have secured €10 million this year. I want to build a belief on this issue because often people read banner headlines about reduced funding for mental health services but do not look around them. Of course, I do not believe mental health services receive sufficient funding, but it is up to me to try to secure further funds. In moving from institutional to community care and closing old hospitals the real issue is bringing funding for mental health services to the level achieved several years ago.

When I tell people that I will close the old institutions in the next three years, I have to give meaning to my commitment. With the funding I secured last year I tried to prioritise the reports of the inspector of mental hospitals which outline the awful conditions in some hospitals. This year my Department turned the sod on a 100-bed unit in Mullingar to replace wards in St. Loman's Hospital. Similarly, we turned the sod in Clonmel four months ago. The new psychiatric unit in Letterkenny will allow us to discontinue referrals to the old hospital. For the first time since 1815 there will be no further referrals to Grangegorman because the new hospital in Blanchardstown is now open. More importantly, the moratorium has been partially lifted to meet nursing requirements. Next month we will process the planning application for the acute psychiatric unit at Beaumont Hospital.

I accept these measures will not deal with all of the issues raised. Budgetary constraints will impact on most of the services we had hoped to develop this year, but the Government's underlying commitment to ensuring patient safety remains in place. I do not believe for one second that any policy initiated by the Government or delivered by the HSE will have an adverse effect on patient safety which must be the hallmark of health policy.

I cannot speak about Kenmare hospital because I do not know a lot about it. However, if the Government has made a commitment to develop the hospital, who am I to believe it will not be met? I will revert to Senator Daly on the issues he has raised and accept his invitation to sign the tender as soon as it crosses my desk.