James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I am glad the Minister for Health and Children is in the House to hear this and perhaps she would oblige us by taking this issue today. I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of local and national importance, namely, the closure of Loughloe House, Athlone, County Westmeath, which is due to shut within the next two months, leaving elderly residents, many of whom have been there for decades, forced to leave family and friends to take up alternative accommodation out of their own communities. The decision was taken by the HSE purely on financial grounds, with little regard for the elderly, in a move that is akin to eviction and will be mirrored throughout the country in the months ahead.

More than 2,000 people took part in a march in Athlone protesting against the actions of the HSE. Last night nearly 500 people attended a public meeting in Athlone.

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