James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that funds realised from the sale of hospitals and lands and assets in the mental health sector will be ring fenced for future investment in the mental health services sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27567/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that funds realised from the sale of assets, hospitals and lands in the mental health sector will be ring fenced for future investment in that sector, if the Department of Finance agree to ring fence the said funds for investment in mental health services and investment plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27568/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 213 together.

The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change" was launched in January 2006 and has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of mental health services. This policy envisions an active, flexible and community-based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. It will require substantial funding, but there is considerable equity in buildings and lands within the current mental health system, which could be realised to fund this plan. "A Vision for Change" recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to re-invest the resources released by these closures in the mental health service.

The closure of mental hospitals and the reinvestment of the proceeds will take place on a phased basis. Hospitals can only close when the clinical needs of the remaining patients have been addressed in more appropriate settings such as additional community residences, day hospitals and day centres together with a substantial increase in the number of well trained, fully staffed, community-based multi-disciplinary Community Mental Health Teams as is recommended in a "A Vision for Change".

The assessment and realisation of the full economic value of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands is the responsibility of the HSE.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the process that was used to arrive at the decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital from Dundrum to the proposed prison site at Thornton Hall in north County Dublin; if expert committees, staff management or senior Health Service Executive officials were consulted on the suitability of the site for the purpose of a central mental hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27569/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the process used to arrive at the decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital from Dundrum to Thornton Hall prison site in north County Dublin; if expert committees or the relevant officers in the Health Service Executive and the management of the Central Mental Hospital were consulted on the suitability of the site for the purpose of a central mental hospital, prior to the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27537/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 209 together.

In February 2003 the Department of Health and Children established a Project Team to progress the redevelopment of the Central Mental Hospital. The Project Team, which comprised key stakeholders, including representatives from the Central Mental Hospital, the then health boards, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Health and Children, recommended that the hospital be relocated to a new purpose built facility in the greater Dublin area, with ready access to the M50.

In February 2004, the Government decided that the Ministers for Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform should consult on the future of the CMH in the context of the plans to replace Mountjoy Prison. In November 2004 the Government decided that in principle, and subject to further study, the CMH should be transferred to the same site as the proposed new prison. It later agreed the purchase of Thornton Hall for the provision of the prison.

In May 2006, the Government formally approved the development of a new national forensic mental health facility at Thornton Hall, County Dublin and that the cost of developing the new facility would be met from the proceeds of the sale of the existing site in Dundrum. This decision was consistent with a recommendation contained in "A Vision for Change" — the report of the expert Group on Mental Health Policy which recommended that the CMH should be replaced or remodelled to allow it to provide care and treatment in a modern, up-to-date humane setting and that the capacity of the CMH should be maximised.

The redevelopment of the CMH will constitute a separate capital development project independent of the prison complex to replace Mountjoy Prison, and will be owned and managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The new hospital will be built on its own campus and will retain its identity as a distinct, separate, therapeutic health facility. The new hospital will also have its own grounds with a separate entrance and address to the prison complex.