Mr. Eamon Timmins:

Today, the UN International Day of Older Persons, a global ageing index has been published by HelpAge International. Ireland has fallen from 12th to 17th place. Unlike some of the economic analyses, which examine income, this index considers a more cultural mix, including employment, education, health and equality within society. Britain is at No. 11. People always compare us with Britain. Norway is at the top and Afghanistan is at No. 96, at the bottom of the index. It takes an holistic approach. We are doing well but we did better last year.

We all have to heat our homes but older people have a greater health need for heat, and those with a disability an even greater one. The cost is greater for an older person living alone. It is very difficult to compare an older person with somebody in his or her 20s or 40s. Their needs are different.

It would be better to give the person an extra hour of home help than an extra fiver, if we could be sure of it, but we cannot be.

When people say to put the money into services instead, we do not see that. In fact we have seen the very opposite when it comes to home helps. There are 1.7 million fewer hours this year than 2010.