James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I utterly reject Deputy Kelleher's suggestion that it was not necessary to suspend approvals until there was clarity with regard to the funding.

It would have been utterly irresponsible to do anything else.

Clearly, Deputy Kelleher did not listen when he made his assertion that there is no increased provision for older people. I have already made it clear that there will be 1,700 places additional to the ones that were available at the time in May last.

On Deputy Ó Caoláin's assertion that I did would not answer questions, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch has responsibility for this area and is entitled to take questions on it. However, there were non-priority oral questions and I answered some of them. I am not afraid to answer questions. Indeed, I spent a full "Prime Time" programme answering questions on this and carers.

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