Hospital land sales to fund mental health care

GOVERNMENT plans to sell lands belonging to the State’s psychiatric institutions to fund mental health care were met with scepticism yesterday.

Mental health organisations and Opposition parties have expressed reservations. The National Association of the Mentally Handicapped in Ireland said yesterday it was paramount that the details of plans to provide a better service for psychiatric patients were published before any lands were sold.

Minister of State for Health, Tim O'Malley that the Government may sell up to 200 acres of lands attached to 14 mental hospitals around the country.