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.

Despite opposition from the Department of Finance, Mr O’Malley said he had secured Government assurances that all proceeds from the sale of lands would be ring-fenced for funding of mental health services.

The decision may lead to the closure of some older, more outdated institutions which have repeatedly been the focus of criticism in reports by the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. One of the first parcels of lands earmarked for sale is around 34 acres at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

Mr O'Malley acknowledged yesterday that the mental health services “have always been the last in the queue for funds.”

The new State watchdog for the sector, the Mental Health Commission, recently advised the Government funding of mental services would have to be doubled in order for them to reach acceptable standards.

The budget for services currently stands at €680m.

Although NAMHI welcomed Mr O’Malley’s recognition that people with intellectual disability had to endure sub-standard services, it was sceptical about the Government delivering on its promises.

“NAMHI hopes the planned land sales and ringfencing of funds does not have the same fate as the €13m ringfenced for the transfer of people with intellectual disability inappropriately placed in St Ita’s, Portrane, a number of years ago. This promised funding never materialised.”

Fine Gael health spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said the sale of lands would not see improvements in services unless additional money was set aside to fund the day-to-day running of capital investment in the sector.

“I am highly sceptical that any building programme would be matched by the necessary revenue to ensure these buildings would not lie idle in the future. The health sector is awash with expensive newly-built facilities which have never been opened,” said Ms Mitchell.

Green Party spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs Dan Boyle described the proposal as “pathetic kite flying that does nothing to address the long term services for those with mental health needs.”