The Government was yesterday called on to ensure that all profits made from the sale of land at mental health institutions is reinvested in the sector.
Fine Gael warned yesterday that the sale of lands at mental health institutions would not mean improvements for patients unless the Government committed to ringfencing the money yielded for investment in the mental health sector.
Fine Gael's health spokesperson, Mr Dan Neville, last night said: "The Government's proposal to sell land at psychiatric institutions to raise money for the mental health sector is a fig leaf to cover its failure to invest in the long term development of the psychiatric services, including community-based services.
"The real need in mental health is for specialist personnel, for psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors. An adolescent who attempts suicide today will wait up to two years to see a psychiatrist," he added.
The Department of Health says more than 200 acres of land from 14 mental hospitals have been earmarked for sale, which officials expect will raise several hundred million euro.