James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if moneys raised from the sale of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands are being ring-fenced for the development of mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41202/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide details of the sale of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands for each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; the moneys raised from the sale of these assets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41203/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

'A Vision for Change', the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of our mental health services. The Report recommends inter alia that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up and implemented and that the resources released by these closures should be protected for reinvestment in the mental health service. It is understood that the Health Service Executive (HSE) has disposed of a small number of assets since the launch of the Report in January 2006.

As the HSE has primary responsibility for implementing this recommendation, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issues raised by the Deputy. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.