I am grateful to get this opportunity to ask the Minister for Health about Lantern Lodge in Killarney. Twenty-seven long-enduring patients with mental health disabilities are being asked to move to a new facility at Leawood House on Countess Road in Killarney.

Does this relate to promised legislation?

Yes, it does. The programme for Government contains a commitment to assist people with mental health disabilities. I will put the scenario to the Taoiseach because the Minister has gone. People with long-enduring disabilities were getting a meal at the Lantern Lodge facility. They are being moved across town now. They have been told they will not get a meal and they will not have showering facilities at the new facility.

The matter being raised by the Deputy would be more appropriate to Topical Issues.

Why is the Government allowing this to happen to the most vulnerable section of our community? On top of the recent proposal to close the St. Mary of the Angels facility in the town of Killarney, it is proposed to hurt 27 more people. Why is this being allowed?

This has nothing to do with legislation. When the Deputy's brother raised another case last week, I pointed out to him that the central point in all of this should be the quality of life of the patients. That means there should be full and proper consultation with patients and their families and next of kin. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is very interested in seeing that this happens in as comprehensive and understanding a way as can be. It may well be that all the patients in these settings around the country do not have to be moved. Some of them would be much better off, in terms of quality of life, within their communities where a proper home care package is put around them. I will have the Minister of State acquainted with the Deputy's point about Countess Road. I find it difficult to believe it is possible that neither meals not showers will be made available, but I will have that checked out for the Deputy.