Vol. 421 No. 4
207 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the future role of St. Senan's Psychiatric Hospital in Enniscorthy, County Wexford in the care of the mentally ill in the South-Eastern Health Board area; if he will give an assurance that it will be continued in its current status as a major residential and treatment centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The future of St. Senan's Hospital is the responsibility of the South-Eastern Health Board in the first instance. The South-Eastern Health Board is developing a psychiatric service in line with the recommendations of the report Planning for the Future published in 1984. This will lead to the replacement of some older psychiatric hospitals by psychiatric units attached to general hospitals and services in the community.
I must emphasise that there is no question of psychiatric hospitals like St. Senan's Hospital in Enniscorthy being closed down until adequate alternative facilities have been put in place in the community and in general hospitals.
