Twenty Deputies are remaining. I call Deputy Eugene Murphy.

Yesterday, I raised with the Tánaiste news that was delivered to Roscommon's Oireachtas Members privately last Friday concerning the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, which is supposed to accommodate 33 people, a number that is now 12, with mild mental health issues, and St. Joseph's day care centre in Ballaghaderreen. Last Friday, the HSE announced that both facilities would close. The intention is to move people out of the Rosalie centre, but the HSE does not seem to have a plan in respect of the day care centre in Ballaghaderreen. While the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly's door has been open to us on this matter for months and he has tried to listen to and deal with complaints, the most vulnerable people are being left out on a limb and their families in a desperate situation. It is not good enough. I will not lecture the Taoiseach. Rather, I will ask him one question, just as I asked the Tánaiste yesterday. Will the Taoiseach pick up the phone today and tell the HSE not to close these facilities?

I will ask the Minister of State to respond.

As the Deputy is aware-----

In all fairness, the Taoiseach-----

No, Deputy.

The Minister of State answered yesterday. This is ridiculous. I asked the Taoiseach.

It is the Taoiseach's prerogative to pass the question to the Minister of State.

I would ask the Taoiseach to reconsider his prerogative and answer the question, please.

May I correct the record? It is not the closing of the unit that is at issue, but the welfare of the remaining 12 residents. As the Deputy and his colleagues are aware, a clinical assessment of the best and most appropriate setting for the care of these 12 residents has been carried out.

It has not.

That assessment was independent of the HSE and me and will be independently evaluated by the College of Psychiatry in Ireland. If the assessment finds that the best place for these residents is not in Rosalie but in another unit, no politician - not the Taoiseach nor I as Minister of State - can override the clinical direction set by clinicians. We must respect it. I cannot allow these 12 residents to be used as political pawns in any power play.

That is an unfair statement.

The very best and most appropriate care-----

The Minister of State visited the centre.

-----for these people is paramount, and that is what I will protect for as long as I am in this position.

It was an unfair statement, and the Minister of State knows it.

This is not a money-saving issue.

The Minister of State is not dealing honestly with the people in-----

Deputy, please.

May I conclude? Many people have to leave their homes to move to another setting where more appropriate care can be given to them as they get older. For my parents and many others' parents, that is a fact of life. It may also be a fact of life for these people, but it will only happen if their care needs will be improved.

It is an outstanding centre and should not be condemned.