Vol. 554 No. 5
892 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to improve facilities in a hospital (details supplied) in view of the fact that additional places are urgently required for the prison service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15402/02]
899 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to improve or rebuild a hospital (details supplied) to improve facilities for its patients, in view of the fact that his Department gave an undertaking two years ago to have this hospital rebuilt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 892 and 899 together.
The East Coast Area Health Board, in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health and Children established a group to review the future role of the Central Mental Hospital in December 2000. The group was set up to advise on proposals for the future of the Central Mental Hospital in the context of national and regional services provided by the hospital, linkages with community psychiatric services, linkages with the criminal justice system, legislation, the training role of the Central Mental Hospital for medical, nursing and paramedical staff and future accommodation and resource requirements. The group has now concluded its work and its report was submitted to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Department of Health and Children in 2002.
The report includes plans to modernise, refurbish and extend the existing building and to provide a new residence on the campus. Overall capacity would increase from 90 to 120. The Minister for Health and Children has accepted, in principle, the main thrust of the report of the review group and is establishing a special project team, representative of all the main stakeholders, including the Irish Prison Service, to progress the matter as quickly as possible.
