Like Deputy Kenny, I wish the Tánaiste success in the health portfolio. She has set out three priorities and I do not dispute them. It is urgent that they be dealt with after the many years of drift. Deputy Kenny referred to the publication of the ESRI report today, and to the fact that we are second from the bottom of 22 OECD countries in comparative performance on health status indicators. This means the general health of the country, as compared to those countries, is second from the bottom.

Specifically on the mental health services does the Tánaiste appreciate that as a total percentage of the health budget, we now spend just over 6% of the total health budget compared with 11% in the 1990s? Does she agree that the mental health services are the Cinderella of the health service? What is the status of Government policy following the announcement of her colleague, Deputy O'Malley, in respect of the sale of public lands surrounding 14 psychiatric hospitals in the country and the commitment that that money will be ploughed back into the psychiatric services? Is that Government policy? Has the Department of Finance or the new Government stopped it? What is the status of it? I ask this because of a particular case in the Tánaiste's constituency, where €31 million has been realised from the sale of lands around St. Loman's. A commitment was given that it would be used in an area that has the poorest provision of psychiatric services per capita in the country, although it has the highest clinical demand. I speak of community areas four and five. The sale of the lands realised €31 million, but only €15 million has been dedicated to the psychiatric services. How can that be reconciled with the announcement with much fanfare during the summer, of the transformation of land assets into what the Minister called health assets, specifically for the mental health services?

More resources into mental health is a priority. We have to ensure that people who require institutional care live in the best possible circumstances. Among the issues I would like to see dealt with is the situation regarding the Central Mental Hospital. All of these issues require resources, including the removal of people with intellectual disabilities from mental health institutions. The intention is that any resources that can be found from the disposal of assets would go into that area. We need to carry out an audit of what we can generally sell in the country. There are quite a number of properties currently in the possession of health boards, soon to be in the possession of the HSE, that will not be required for health related facilities. I would like to see those disposed of in an orderly manner and the resources raised put into health care, including mental health.

There is one proviso. We also have commitments on social and affordable housing. Each Department was asked some time ago to provide sites for social and affordable housing. We have to marry a number of different priorities. As far as I and the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy O'Malley are concerned, we have to put more resources into the development of modern state-of-the-art facilities in the mental health area.

The progress on social and affordable housing has been weak. The Tánaiste should consult the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; I notice he is making considerable progress in one-off housing down the country.

Can the Tánaiste please deal with the question? Is it Government policy to sell off the land surrounding the psychiatric institutions and to dedicate the money to the development of the psychiatric services? That is the specific question. The Tánaiste said she would like to see them being sold off and the resources dedicated to the mental and general services. The Minister of State made a clear announcement and what I am trying to establish is whether it means anything. Is that the purpose for which the lands will be sold off? I gave the example of St. Loman's, where €31 million was realised in the sale and €15 million was dedicated to the services. Why was that the case? Will the Tánaiste do something about it? I cannot believe that seven and a half years later, we are talking about doing an audit. There was no audit done when religious lands were sold off. On the other hand, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has had no difficulty in purchasing lands all around the country for a decentralisation programme more realised in the imagination than in reality. We are to do an audit seven and a half years later. That really is not good enough when people are suffering deprivation in the psychiatric services area. A report, The Stark Facts, produced by the Irish Psychiatric Association shows that resources, including clinical resources, are concentrated in areas that are least deprived. In terms of a service regarded generally as the poor relation of the health services, the areas most deprived of psychiatric services are the poorest areas in the country.

I call the Tánaiste to reply.

Do we know what is Government policy on this matter? I know what the Tánaiste would like to do. I do not question her good motivation. What is Government policy on this matter and when will it be implemented?

Specifically in regard to St.Loman's, I am not in a position to advise the Deputy what happened to the missing €15 million from the mental health area, although perhaps I can check that.

The overall policy is that any sale in the health area that can be made should go generally into health, with one proviso in respect of social and affordable housing. My Department, like every other Department, has been asked to come forward with land that may be suitable for social and affordable housing. To the best of my knowledge, there is no formal Government decision in regard to this matter, but that would be the intention. As far as audits are concerned, it will not be a long drawn out audit, but in the Department of Heath and Children we do not have a piece of paper that indicates what lands may be available to be disposed of over the next year or 18 months. It would be very useful if we knew what we could dispose of with a view to putting the money into health care.

What did the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, say?

I think he was talking about specific pieces of land.

No, he announced in respect of 16 psychiatric institutions——