Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide alternative and appropriate purpose built accommodation for the remaining residents of St. Joseph's Psychiatric Hospital, Mulgrave Street, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50773/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A Vision for Change recommended the closure of the old psychiatric hospitals and a move from the traditional institutional based model of care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where the need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, while still providing in-patient care when appropriate. This Government is committed to implementing A Vision for Change and reforming our model of healthcare delivery so that more and better quality care is delivered in the community. In this regard the mental health capital programme will provide the infrastructure necessary for the continued reform of our mental health services and will facilitate the closure of the remaining hospitals.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.