A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to implementing the national dementia strategy and advancing services in the community. At the same time, 12 dementia patients are being moved from the only place they know as home. I refer to the Rosalie unit in Castlerea in County Roscommon. This move is being done against the wishes of the residents and their families. The families are being told that the HSE believes the care needs of the patients can be better met elsewhere. It has not been specified, however, what care needs are not being met in the Rosalie centre. These 12 people call the Rosalie centre home. They are not just being moved out of their home but out of their county and the families are at a loss to understand why. A commitment was given to implement a national dementia strategy and to move services into the community but these people are simply being shunted from one area to another. Will the Tánaiste please commit to getting some answers for the families?

As Deputy O'Reilly is aware, an expert has examined this issue. Dr. Anderson has finished the assessment process and his report on the Rosalie unit concluded that two of the patients require inpatient psychiatric care in a different setting and the remaining ten patients require general nursing as opposed to psychiatric nursing. That was at the time of the inspection. I accept the point being made by the Deputy, in that there needs to be clear communications with the families.

The families are being stressed by this situation.

I know that the families are stressed and this has become a big political issue locally as well. Communication regarding the facilities and supports available to the residents, and indeed their families, needs to be carefully managed. I assume that will happen.