Mr. Michael Fitzgerald:

Yes, the decision is final. We did not take that decision lightly, as I said in my opening statement, but on the basis of the various reasons that I outlined. The condition of the building was the main concern we had. When it came to the spending of money on it, we could not guarantee that we could bring it up to a standard that would pass muster into the future. That is the reality.

The second piece concerns the residents. The Deputy is right that it is difficult for the residents and we completely appreciate that. There are people who have lived for a long time in that residential setting. As Dr. O'Brien said, we are working with each of those residents very carefully and with their families as well. Of course, it is very traumatic and we are working with them in terms of an appropriate placement, some for nursing home care and some for high-support hospital care. It is hoped that some people, with more intensive rehabilitation, will be able to return to more independent living. For that purpose, we are examining at least one residential setting that we would like to have as a start-off in the town. We could bring people there, if they so choose and if they have the ability to do so, in order to again commence independent living. As we said, we would also be working with the local authority to replace the unit for the purposes of independent living into the future.