Hospitals Building Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004

Thursday, 7 October 2004

Ceisteanna (185)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

185 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans for the development of the services for persons in the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum; if her attention has been drawn to the views of relatives that a modern building with high quality services should be developed and should not be located within Mountjoy Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23811/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

Proposals for the development of a new Central Mental Hospital are currently under consideration in my Department.

The majority of admissions to the Central Mental Hospital come from within the Prison Service. Accordingly, ease of access between the main Dublin prisons and the hospital would be of importance and I understand that the location of the hospital adjacent to a prison would have operational benefits for the prison service. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that the Central Mental Hospital is a therapeutic, health care facility. I fully agree with families and carers who feel that it would not be desirable that the hospital be perceived as, or closely identified with, a prison complex.

I understand that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has advanced proposals to develop a new prison complex replacing Mountjoy. I recognise the potential benefits of close co-operation between that project and the re-development of the Central Mental Hospital and I will ask my officials to consider how the matter might be progressed to the mutual benefit of both services.