I ask Deputies to assist me, or their colleagues, who are awaiting an opportunity to contribute.

Page 57 of A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to implementing the national dementia strategy. The largest and best dementia care home in Ireland is St. Joseph's in Shankill. In spite of promises from the Minister, Deputy Harris, on the floor of this House that it would remain open, it is now weeks away from closure. The board announced that, as of last Friday, it will no longer take in new residents. I am in contact with the chief executive officer and I have been told that the facility is weeks away from closure. There is fear and concern in the community. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to the patients, volunteers, staff and families that, regardless of what happens in terms of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, St. Joseph's will remain open?

I call Deputy John Brady on the same issue.

Last month, on 7 November, I raised the issue of St. Joseph's dementia care home in Shankill following an announcement from the board that it was facing a brick wall, with potential closure of its day care and residential facilities. This is the result of gross underfunding year on year. On 7 November, the Minister gave a commitment in this Chamber that the facility would not close. The board of St. Joseph's has engaged with the process and the National Treatment Purchase Fund but, unfortunately, that engagement came to an unsatisfactory conclusion last Thursday.

I ask Deputy Brady to allow the Minister to respond.

Owing to a massive deficit, the board had to take the unprecedented step of refusing further access to the residential facility.

I call the Minister for Health.

The Minister needs to honour the commitment he gave on 7 November.

The Minister understands the question.

The Minister needs to give a commitment that funding will be found and that the doors of this facility will remain open. I want him to give that undertaking to the people and families who are suffering anxiety-----

Deputy Brady, you are being unfair to the Chair.

The families need a commitment from the Minister today that this facility will remain open.

This session could come to an abrupt end if Deputies are not reasonable, not to me, but to their colleagues who are waiting.

Hear, hear.

Since this issue was raised, the Government has provided more funding to St. Joseph's through the HSE. More funding has been provided and that secures the day care facility. In regard to the residential facility, people can be politically disingenuous if they wish but no politician can direct the NTPF in regard to the rate. It is a matter of public record that the NTPF has offered to pay more. It is also a matter of record that this is not enough for St. Joseph's in terms of its sustainability.

It needs €50 million.

The Minister, without interruption, please.

If Deputy Donnelly was in this seat, he would not able to change the position. The law is very clear in regard to the NTPF. The process has not been exhausted in regard to the NTPF. An appeal has not been lodged. I reiterate the position that I intend to keep-----

The Minister committed to keeping it open until the middle of next year.

The Deputy is getting a response.

This is like a bad council meeting. This is a serious matter. I intend----

The Minister needs to take it seriously.

The Deputy is being disingenuous. I intend to keep the doors of St. Joseph's open. I will use every legal tool I have available to that end. I call on St. John of God, which does an awful lot of work in this area, to step in and resolve this problem. We will keep this facility open and we will do it through the process.