Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has been quite frightening to listen to the two opening statements regarding the issues and the day-to-day concerns, outside of the more serious concerns.

It is frightening to think people are being put into nursing homes somewhat against their will or coercively, with the fair deal scheme being applied for without their full consent. While there are recommendations for dealing with that, I have a few questions about it. Have the organisations before us engaged in any extensive way with the HSE regarding the practicalities of the operation of the fair deal scheme and the potential difficulty in that regard? In the scenario I outlined, persons are coerced into a nursing home and the fair deal scheme is applied for on their behalf. Are there any checks and balances to ensure their signatures are authentic and properly witnessed, with all the necessary steps taken?

My next question is for Alone. Pre-pandemic, there were challenges and post pandemic, there are significantly more. What is the funding structure of the organisation? Is it well funded? Is it funded by the HSE or how is it funded to complete its important work? During the pandemic in particular, Alone had a high profile in terms of the supports it provided. As its representatives rightly said, people were advised to cocoon and for good reason, but there is not the same emphasis on people now re-engaging in society. That information campaign should be driven by the likes of Alone as opposed to the State. Does the organisation have funding in place to do that and is it doing it? If not, is it willing to do it? What is the overall funding structure for the important work Alone does, given ours is an ageing society?