Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 28 April 2009, if the Health Service Executive has presented the revised submission; the implications this has for the future sale of psychiatric hospitals and the retention of funds for the development of the mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24621/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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'A Vision for Change' the Report on the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy 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 mental health service. 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 projects to be funded from these disposals was received from the HSE in February last. Following examination of the proposals and discussions with the HSE, a revised submission was requested. A revised submission has now been received from the HSE and is currently under consideration in my Department with a view to submission to the Department of Finance.