Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the contacts and meetings which have taken place between the Health Service Executive, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, herself and officials from her Department in relation to the location of the new Central Mental Hospital on the Thornton prison site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31069/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are no records of any meetings between the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) to Thornton Hall. However the matter was discussed at Cabinet in the context of the Memorandum to Government seeking approval to purchase the site and the subsequent Memorandum to approve the development of the hospital on the site. Since my appointment earlier this year, I have met the Health Service Executive and have had discussions in relation to the redevelopment of the CMH.

Since the acquisition of the Thornton Hall site, there have been various meetings, correspondence and telephone calls between my officials and officials of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Irish Prison Service. My officials are also engaged in regular meetings with the Health Service Executive, including the management of the CMH, in relation to the project, and they are jointly represented on working groups charged with progressing the redevelopment.