I raise a recent official announcement that affects my constituency. Last Friday, the Health Service Executive, HSE, announced at a meeting with Oireachtas Members that the Rosalie residential centre for mildly mentally handicapped persons in Castlerea is to close within the next four weeks. We were also told before the end of the meeting that St. Joseph's day care centre in Ballaghaderreen, which 18 people attend, was to close. I recognise the role played by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who has acknowledged the representations made to him on this matter by people he met while visiting the centre. This is a scandalous announcement. The Government is neglecting vulnerable people in a scandalous way in several areas of mental health.

These are vulnerable people. As the Taoiseach swans around New York giving out U2 tickets, he seems to have little realisation of the problem on his doorstep at home. I challenge the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to pick up the phone today to instruct the HSE not to close those centres, end of story. I demand that the Minister of State does this without further delay.

I also want to raise this issue. There are many people in those homes who suffer with dementia. There are 55,000 people in Ireland with dementia. A recent mapping exercise was carried out by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the HSE to pinpoint exactly what services are available in Ireland. The report shows evidence that there is inequality of services nationally. Unfortunately, Roscommon is suffering badly as a result of this inequity. The closure of the Rosalie unit will cause further hardship for the people in that area who have dementia.

I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. I am not privy to what happened at that meeting on Friday but Deputy Eugene Murphy will know that I have met the local Oireachtas Members on numerous occasions. As far as I am concerned the situation has not changed. The future of the Rosalie unit will be determined by the outcome of the clinical assessment of the 12 remaining residents who are there.

That is not what we are looking for at all.

I am waiting for that clinical assessment to be completed. We have also undertaken to have it independently reviewed by the College of Psychiatry. That continues to be my sole focus, as it has been from day one. It is not about the politics or who said what. It is about the well-being of the 12 remaining residents. The only guidance I will take on this issue is clinical guidance and I await the result of the clinical assessment before any decision is taken on the future of the unit.

The HSE is an agent of the Government.

I am sorry, Deputy Murphy-----

Will the Minister of State instruct the HSE? These are vulnerable people.