Thornton Hall plan unchanged- Minister

THE GOVERNMENT will not reverse its decision to move Dundrum's Central Mental Hospital to the new prison site at Thornton Hall, the Oireachtas Committee on Health heard yesterday.

Minister of State at the Department of Health John Moloney said the site in north Dublin was the only site on offer and there was no "Plan B".

The committee has already heard strong opposition to the plan from the Central Mental Hospital Carers' Group, the Irish Mental Health Coalition and the Mental Health Commission. They have claimed that placing the hospital on a site adjacent to a prison would stigmatise patients, distress their families and reduce opportunities for rehabilitation.

No committee member spoke in favour of the move yesterday, including the Fianna Fáil members present.

Senator Mary White was the most trenchant in her opposition to the relocation, describing it as "a wrong political decision made for purely financial reasons". She said it was impetuous, rash and morally wrong. "I can't toe the line and not give my honest opinion."

Charlie O'Connor TD said "all of us have concerns about this particular issue" and asked if there were plans to review the decision.

Bobby Aylward TD said he had an open mind but pointed out that the hospital site at Dundrum was big and could facilitate a new building.

Mr Moloney warned that unless the project was progressed quickly, the new hospital could be lost. "There is no Plan B. Plan A has been lying there now for three years and nothing has happened."