Barrett Cheshire Home in Herbert Street has done extraordinary work for people down through the years. That organisation also does good work throughout the country and in other countries. It recently had an opportunity to acquire a property beside its premises. The owner of that property was willing and able to lease it at a very reasonable price. It was also told it could get a grant from the Department of the Environment. As the home has undertaken a large residential care project in Blackrock, it could not meet the shortfall of £60,000 and applied to the Department of Health, but its application was refused.
It was thought that the building was no longer available, but it has come to light that it is available.Considering this organisation's record, the great work it does and the great demand there is for places in it, I ask the Minister of State to give this matter careful consideration. If the home was given a grant of £65,000, it could provide full-time residential care for six or seven people. That represents good value for money. As the Minister of State is aware, there is a great demand for such care. The home is anxious to obtain the necessary money to enable it acquire this building to provide six full-time residential care places in additional to their existing facilities. This is a simple matter and one the home is anxious to act on.