Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referred to it, but I thought we were speaking only to subhead J, however, we are speaking to subhead K as well.

The demographics are alarming when one looks at the age profile of the nation over the next 25 to 30 years. Most politicians live and die by the sword in terms of the next election but there is an onus on us to deal with the very serious and stark issue facing us, the pensions time bomb and the ageing profile and how to address these issues in the years ahead.

Without sounding adversarial or critical, we need to look at the development capital infrastructure in the provision of residential facilities for elderly people in the next number of years. Step-down facilities and-or home care packages are included in the current expenditure phase but the long-term capital requirements will be significant. The HIQA inspections will probably condemn facilities, particularly the public nursing homes which will not be fit for purpose in a modern context. I am aware of the budgetary constraints and while critical I have to be realistic, because we cannot put this off for ever. Are there plans to stimulate the development of further private nursing homes or will we try to ensure we have the wherewithal to develop public nursing homes? If we are having difficulties as is in trying to provide 22,000 nursing home beds through the fair deal scheme, we will have major problems in a short time in light of life expectancy and the age profile.

What are the longer-term implications of the reduction in capital in this year's subhead?