Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure adequate capital funding in 2012 to continue the closure of psychiatric hospitals and transfer of service users to appropriate, community-based accommodation. [38857/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government's policy on mental health incorporates the recommendations of A Vision for Change. This Government is committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and vastly improving access to modern mental health services in the community. The Programme for Government states that unsuitable psychiatric institutions will be closed and patients including those with intellectual disabilities and older people in the care of the mental health services will be provided with more appropriate community based facilities. Children and adolescents will be provided with appropriate in-patient accommodation. The Health Service Executive's Capital Plan 2011-2015, which is published on its website, sets out its planned programme including detail on mental health infrastructure.

The Programme for Government also provided for a Comprehensive Spending Review; the Capital Review 'Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework' was published on 10 November 2011. In the context of the review, the Government announced that the Health Service Executive's health capital allocation is to be maintained at €1,870m. Of this figure €1,670m over the five year period or €334m a year is allocated to building, equipping and furnishing of health facilities. The remaining €200m over the period or €40m a year is allocated to the HSE ICT infrastructure. Minister Howlin also announced that additional capital funding would be made available from a special lottery initiative. This is tangible evidence, in a time of fiscal consolidation, that the Government remains committed to supporting crucial health infrastructure development and delivering on its Programme for Government commitment which states that 'health capital spending will be a priority'.

Following the publication of the review, the Health Service Executive will commence drawing up its capital programme for the multi-annual period 2012-2016. The Executive is required to prioritise the capital infrastructure projects within its overall capital funding allocation taking into account the existing capital commitments and costs to completion over the period. The proposed plan requires my approval with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.