Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the manner in which the money raised from the sale of psychiatric hospitals and lands will be ring-fenced to fund mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45576/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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'A Vision for Change' the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, 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. 'A Vision for Change' has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of our mental health services.

Following the sale of land, the HSE is required to lodge the proceeds to the Exchequer as Exchequer Extra Receipts; proceeds from the sale of psychiatric hospitals and lands will then be ringfenced for reinvestment in mental health services. Going forward the funds will be drawn down by the Health Service Executive to finance the mental health physical infrastructure programme envisioned in 'A Vision for Change'.