Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The figures given by Mr. Martin with regard to dementia are really stark. They have not been commented on so far, to my knowledge. According to his organisation's submission, some 41,700 people have dementia. That figure will increase to 67,500 by 2021 and over 140,000 by 2041. What are the implications of these striking figures for our society, Government policy and budgeting? We are all hoping to live longer and that is obviously a factor. The type of increase indicated in the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's submission cannot be attributed solely to this. Serious environmental factors must be playing a part also. While this might not be of immediate relevance to the subject of this meeting, it is relevant nonetheless. Mr. Martin might comment on it.

I have to say I fundamentally, absolutely, totally and utterly disagree with Mr. Harty's drive for wholesale privatisation of home help or care services in the home. The care of elderly people should not be a business. Mr. Harty is talking about making savings by giving the commercial organisations he represents much more of what he sees as the business. That implies a cut in the profits of the shareholders, investors and speculators involved in these organisations. How can that be achieved other than by squeezing the unfortunate people involved in providing care in the fundamentally repulsive already alluded to?

I was in the happy position of having an elderly relative cared for by part-time HSE staff for two years. They were not on a 40-hour week and were not on zero hour contracts. They came in for an hour or half an hour five days a week and sometimes at the weekend. The family tried to provide care the rest of the time. I agree with Mr. Dunne that extra funding is needed. It is a bigger picture than what he has come here to discuss. We will discuss the case for investing more money in the care of elderly people, rather than giving billions to bondholders, gamblers and speculators. If the investment in this area were increased, enough money might be available to offer an estimable, reasonable and just level of remuneration to carers and to make more care services available. I suggest Mr. Dunne's organisation, a not-for-profit body, should be bringing these issues to the forefront.

I would like to conclude by asking Mr. Bryan about a couple of issues that are not directly related to the immediate budgetary matters we are discussing. In recent times there has been an horrific increase in the number of fatal and horrible accidents on farms. Perhaps some incidents have received more media publicity than others. Surely the farming associations and all those interested in and concerned about farming - I am aware that many small farmers are struggling - should be saying something about this. Does any Department of State have a role in dealing with this issue? Perhaps Mr. Bryan might make a general comment on it.