John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I did not accuse the Minister of State. I quite like her and think she is very good at her job. To mislead the House, not only would incorrect information have to be delivered, she would have to have known the information was incorrect. I was trying to make the point that the Health Service Executive provided incorrect information regarding the closure of Bethany House. The Minister of State was not to know this information was incorrect.

I refer to the final paragraph of the reply concerning alternative uses of the building by the Alzheimer's Society. I have continually supported the work of the Alzheimer's Society but it is projected that it would cost €100,000 to upgrade Bethany House so that it would be suitable as a day care centre for the Alzheimer's Society. I suggest this sum would make Bethany House perfectly suitable for the needs of the 25 people who reside there are and whose home it is currently. If the money were invested in the building, the residents could stay where they are.

In Ireland we have an attachment to our homes, which is understandable, and terrible dislike of the notion of eviction. The HSE is proposing to evict these people from what they consider their home. I attended the meeting, along with a few hundred people who were very angry. I do not see why that €100,000 could not be spent to provide the necessary equipment to make it safe for the 25 people who live there instead of upgrading it for the Alzheimer's Society.