Government accused of ultimate U-turn

OPPOSITION parties yesterday accused the Government of “the ultimate U-turn” for failing to ensure reinvestment in mental health services of funds raised from the sale of psychiatric hospital lands.

Fine Gael spokesman on mental health Dan Neville said the Government had ignored its own policy by not ensuring these funds were ring-fenced for the future development of mental health services.

A key recommendation of the Government’s mental health policy document, A Vision for Change, says resources released by the sale of psychiatric institutions should be protected for re-investment in mental health services.