James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the sale of St. Senan’s psychiatric hospital; if the funds raised by the sale will be used for improving mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4655/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has recently offered the property and farmland at St. Senan's Hospital in Enniscorthy for sale in two lots. Lot 1 comprises the vacant building which is about 130,000 square feet (or 12,077 square meters) in size and circa 45 acres. Lot 1 will be sold by private treaty. Lot 2 comprises about 44 acres of land and will be auctioned unless previously sold.

New replacement accommodation has already been delivered for all the mental health care services provided from St. Senan's and the delivery of health services has been discontinued at the St. Senan's site. The use of the sales proceeds from these disposals will be subject to sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It would be intended that the proceeds of the sale of this property will be invested in much needed mental health and other facilities in addition to the very significant Exchequer funding required to maintain and improve health infrastructure.

Since 2011, about €23 million has been raised by the HSE from the sale of mental health and other surplus assets and these proceeds have and are being invested in modernising mental facilities in line with A Vision for Change.