Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify if proceeds from the sale of psychiatric hospitals and lands will be ring-fenced for reinvestment in mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6645/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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'A Vision for Change' the Report on the Expert Group on Mental Health recommended 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 re-invested in the new mental health service infrastructure requirement. The Departments of Finance and Health and Children have agreed in principle to the release of the proceeds of the disposal of properties prior to 2006 for reinvestment in mental health capital development. The arrangements for property disposal require Department of Finance approval in each case, the lodging of the proceeds as Exchequer Extra Receipts and the re-Voting of the funds for approved projects. Disposals to date amount to over €42m and a submission detailing the priority projects to be funded from these disposals and planned future disposals was received from the HSE on 12 February. This proposal is currently under consideration by my Department with a view to seeking the necessary agreement of the Department of Finance to the proposed approach.