Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 23 June 2009, if she will provide an update on the funding issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47908/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On foot of a submission from my Department, €25m of the proceeds of the sales of mental health assets, lodged to the Exchequer in previous years, has now been provided to the HSE through the Supplementary Estimate for 2009, to fund mental health capital developments. The funding will go towards projects such as the development of new child and adolescent units in Cork and Galway, a Community Nursing Unit in Ballinasloe, a day centre in Clonmel etc.

In addition, Budget 2010 has provided for a multi-annual programme of capital investment in high priority mental health projects consistent with 'A Vision for Change' to be funded from further disposals. In 2010 the HSE will proceed to dispose of surplus assets and reinvest an initial sum of €43m in the mental health capital programme. Provision for continued funding of the programme will be made in the 2011 Estimates and subsequent years, in the light of the previous year's programme of asset sales. The mental health capital programme will provide a range of facilities across the entire spectrum of mental healthcare facilities including acute psychiatric units, child and adolescent units, day hospitals, community nursing units and high support hostels, and will provide the infrastructure necessary to enable its transformation into a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where the need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, whilst still providing in-patient care when appropriate.