Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I raise this issue after the family involved has exhausted every avenue in trying to seek a resolution to it. The background to the case, with which I believe the Tánaiste if not the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, is familiar, is that Mr. Keeshan has suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the last 15 years. He does not recognise his family and needs full-time care and attention. He is still physically mobile and requires increased care as a result. He is in St. Conlon's Hospital in Nenagh and his family are anxious that he be allocated a bed at the community nursing unit in Birr.

Nenagh is 23 miles from their home whereas Birr is less than two miles away. The man's children live either at the family home or in Birr and they pass through Birr each day as they travel to and from work. The family is very much from Birr. They all went to primary and post primary school in Birr, go to mass and shop there and are part of Birr parish. It is very much their home.

I do not know whether the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley is familiar with hurling.

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