John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share my time with Deputy Cooper-Flynn. I welcome this attempt to address the difficulties caused. I recognise the point made by Deputy Connaughton in regard to Deputy Twomey. Opposition for the sake of opposition was not Deputy Twomey's role and I recognise his responsible attitude on this issue. However, it should also be recognised that it is not the Government's role to create difficulties for the elderly. I will not rehash the statistics on increased funding for the elderly in all areas because this has the effect of annoying Members. However, I will not accept condemnation of the Government as being miserly towards the elderly as that is not the case

I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to clarify some issues related to it. In recent weeks the impression has been created that the Government is intent on removing supports for the elderly and ensuring that they must pay for all of their care and attention. There is a belief that this care and attention should be free across the board. While I have not heard it suggested in the House, this impression has been created.

Over the years I have noted major improvements to nursing homes and care centres for the elderly in my constituency. I do not highlight this to justify the difficulties created in recent months and years. I fully accept difficulties exist and that we have a job to redress these. If elderly people are entitled to a refund in full of money taken, I would fully support this. However, it should also be noted that over those years great strides were taken to put in place proper facilities for the elderly. I have visited care centres in my constituency, including at Mountmellick last week, and witnessed the major improvements made. It galls me that people suggest the Government intends to remove entitlements.

It is difficult for me to address this issue as I may be asked why I do not support the elderly. However, I must recognise the huge costs involved. I was surprised to find that the cost of catering for a patient in my local hospital for the elderly — I am sure it is the same across the board — amounts to €1,200 per week. As pensions are approximately €170 per week, the level of care now extended to the elderly could not be considered unless there was an adequate funding base — I understand the cumulative figure for this is approximately €2 million per week.

I am delighted supports are in place. This issue does not only concern board and lodging but many aspects across the spectrum. I was delighted to note the advances in services at Mountmellick, Shaen in Portlaoise and Abbeyleix, the centres for care of the elderly in County Laois, and similar advances in County Offaly. A range of services which were not available five years ago are now in place, properly so. However, they could not have been initiated or continue unless funding was in place. I am glad we have moved away from the ordinary issues of board and lodging. My local hospital, quite properly, contains a wide spectrum of facilities for crafts, art, music, reflexology and relaxation.

It should not be imagined, though in our minds it unfortunately is, that the only way to care for the elderly is to locate places for them in nursing homes. I take the point made by Deputy Connaughton. I do not see this as a good news package. Why should we see it as such? I see it as focusing on the needs of the elderly. That is not a cop-out by way of admitting that we have been wrong on this issue and now have the opportunity to right it. We should not do so by suggesting that the only way forward is to provide nursing home places. The former health board members among us have regularly made the case for the need to increase subventions in the area, though I recognise that over the past few years, the level of funding in that area has quite properly increased.

It is also fair to recognise that the age profile of the elderly is ever on the increase and the demands placed on the State by that situation are also increasing, as is the demand for further Exchequer funding. We must debate how we care for our elderly. It has often been said that a state is judged on such care, and I accept that. The most important aspect of this debate must be how we move towards providing funding for the elderly and towards recognising that it is not just a matter of finding health board care centre places for them. The possibilities of further grant aid or tax breaks for nursing homes must be opened up.

I welcome the debate. I greatly regret the pain caused but do not think that handing €2,000 to individuals to make up for times past is just a gimmick. I see it as an honest attempt to recognise that a mistake has been made and to rectify it.

I also welcome the medical cards initiative. I do not see it as a yellow pack answer, a quick fix or a cheap gimmick. It is clearly focused on bringing a further 200,000 people into the net. From talking to GPs in my area I am satisfied that a certain barrier has been removed in the case of families, particularly where asthma is a problem, who are often reluctant, especially if there are two, three or maybe four people in the family, to attend their local GP. The initiative has been worthwhile. I take the point that there are fewer people on medical cards than there were. I do not want to throw in a red herring but surely that is related to the fact that we have a growing economy with more people at work, so clearly there are more people outside the previous medical card net.

I welcome the initiative. I do not see it as an attempt to downgrade the elderly. It is a way of focusing on how we can further support them. I thank the Tánaiste for recognising that. On the day of her press conference I thought it was a bold initiative on her behalf to recognise that while we could not immediately extend the medical card numbers, this action could be taken. I believe the initiative showed great promise. Goodwill has been shown towards it and I too welcome it.

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