Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on issues related to the provision of services for older people and to outline what this Government is doing to meet the needs which have been identified for this population group.

Older people represent a core priority of this Fianna Fáil-led Administration. We have delivered record increases in pensions and secondary benefits. There has also been much progress in developing new care services, and extending entitlements, such as the free general practitioner schemes and others. No other party has a record to match this, but we in Fianna Fáil want to go further. We will give further generous pension increases, will ensure that older people can live in dignity and will provide for them to receive care at home.

I can stand over our record. Since 1997, we have increased spending on care services for older people by over €200 million. Medical cards have, for the first time, been extended to all who are over 70 years of age. Others had opportunities to do so in the past, but failed. The old age pension has risen, unprecedentedly, by over 50%. Let us not go back to the road taken in the 1994-96 period when we saw the miserable increases provided by the rainbow Government.

Over 35,000 elderly people have been taken out of the tax net. I am delighted that tax exemptions for those aged 65 and over currently stand at €15,500 for single people and €31,000 for married people. We have created the carer's allowance and, since 1997, the numbers in receipt of that payment have increased by over 100% — from 9,200 to 18,700 in 2002. All our budgets have been characterised by measures designed to improve the position of older people in our society. We have made a good beginning and we want to do more. It is encouraging to talk to some older people who clearly acknowledge and recognise the good that has been done. There are a lot of good things happening in our communities.

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