I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the issue of respite services, especially in the north west. I know the Taoiseach has answered questions previously from Deputy MacSharry around Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, which is a similar service, but there are issues with both of them. There are people in the Gallery who have met the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, about it. While we can quote summary statistics from across the country the reality is that in many areas families are not getting a service. We have people in Sligo and the north west who have not had respite for more than one year. Will the Taoiseach ensure that adequate provision is put in place? We need to see more resources put in to these blackspots. There are a couple of blackspots around the State, and Kerry is another area that has a problem in this regard. In Sligo, the Solis centre has been closed and put as residential care, where it was a purpose built respite service. Will the Taoiseach ensure it can be re-opened and that decision reversed?

With regard to respite services, in Sligo we had a state-of-the-art centre built at a cost of €1.35 million six years' ago and specifically built for that purpose. It has been closed and I understand it is going to be used for decongregation. This is very unfair to the service users who were using the centre. They now must travel a 320 km round trip to Carrickmacross in County Monaghan. It is absolutely outrageous for anybody who needs respite services in Sligo to be forced into that situation. It is wrong. I agree with Deputy Kenny that the centre in Sligo that was specifically built for respite should be re-opened again for the people of the north west.

In 2018 additional resources will be provided for respite care. It is of enormous importance that family carers in particular are able to take a break and avail of respite. Even though the carers' support grant has been fully restored, many people cannot avail of respite because of the difficulties in supplying it in many parts of the State. Obviously, if that funding is increased it will be a matter for the HSE, not me, to decide how to allocate it around the country. This is perhaps something that could be best directed to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris.