merrion street

Ms Kathleen Lynch, T.D., Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, has welcomed today’s (18th July 2012) appointment by the HSE of the Design Team for the Re-configuration of National Forensic Mental Health Service Facilities to replace the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

"The redevelopment of the Central Mental Hospital is a priority for this Government and is a very important element in our plan to modernise our mental health services. It has long been accepted that the facilities at Dundrum are not an appropriate place for treating and caring for persons with mental illness, so I am delighted that we are now moving forward with this major capital project which will provide for a pathway through high, medium and low secure mental health care to align with ‘A Vision for Change’

The design team will commence work immediately on the design of the new facilities which include a new modern, state of the art National Forensic Hospital, a Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, a Forensic Mental Health Intellectual Disability Unit and an Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit (ICRU) to be located at Portrane, as well as three regional ICRU’s that will be located at HSE South, HSE West and Dublin Mid Leinster regions. It is expected that construction will commence in 2014 and take 2 years to complete.