asked the Minister for Health if any change is planned in the status of the Central Mental Hospital complex in Dundrum; if discussions have been held or are planned with the Eastern Health Board concerning the future of the whole complex; if his Department have any plans to end the hospital status of the complex; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundrum Central Mental Hospital.
6.
The Government have decided that the new unit which has been built at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum will be transferred to the Department of Justice for the use of the prison service. My Department are at present engaged in discussions with the Eastern Health Board and with the Department of Justice on arrangements for implementing this decision.
Arrangements are also being made for discussions involving the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and the Eastern Health Board about the future use of the rest of the hospital complex. Pending completion of these discussions, no plans have been made about a change in the status of the hospital.
Will the Minister indicate if alternative arrangements are being made for the drug abusers who were to have been accommodated in the 30-bed unit in the Central Mental Hospital? Will the new arrangements be included in Dundrum or is there another proposal? If there is another proposal, will the Minister give details of it?
Officials from the Department of Justice are meeting officials from the Department of Health and the Eastern Health Board to make formal administrative arrangements for the taking over of the further facilities in the complex. A number of meetings have taken place and we see the discussions on the transfer of the new unit in the context of a wider examination of the future of the whole complex. The Department of Justice have agreed to discuss this further. We are awaiting the outcome of these discussions and, pending that, I am not in a position to give a final answer to the Deputy's question.
The whole question of the treatment of drug addicts in custody was held to be urgent some months ago. The unit built in Dundrum was to provide accommodation for those persons, but that unit has been taken over for another use within the prison service. Does the Minister agree that the drug addicts who are within our prison system and are not suitable for temporary release should be accommodated urgently in a new unit and given treatment?
I shall make a general response to the Deputy because I cannot be specific pending the outcome of the discussions that are taking place. Simultaneous with the Government decision for a new use of the unit was one to appoint a chief medical officer for the prison service. That is a senior consultant position and it will be filled in the immediate future. A great deal of work has been done in regard to the care of prisoners who have drug histories and are, to use an appropriate pharase, ongoing drug addicts in need of constant care. The position has improved because of a greater awareness by all concerned. I am never satisfied, but certainly I am a lot happier than I was six months ago. When the post is filled and final arrangements worked out in about six months time, we will have come to grips with the requirement for the use of Arbour Hill, of Dundrum and the new services in Dublin outside of Jervis Street hospital. It is beginning to gel together now as a real service. I am fairly certain that this year we will have it all in place.
When does the Minister expect that discussions with the Eastern Health Board will be completed? When will the final agreement be put into effect, whatever it may be?
Would the Minister say if it is intended to hold any consultations with the staff of the hospital in Dundrum? Could he tell us what proposals the Department of Justice have for using their portion of the complex?
I can assure the Deputy that there will be discussions between the Eastern Health Board, who are the employers who run the hospital, and the union representatives concerned in the hospital. I can foresee some considerable difficulties arising, but there has been a long history of difficulties in that area. Nevertheless I am convinced that an amicable agreement will be reached between the Department of Justice, the Eastern Health Board and the authorities in Dundrum. I do not want to go beyond that at this stage.