Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I support Deputy Twomey's strong amendment because it would have teeth and contains common-sense proposals. It would deal with the long-term care of the elderly.

The funding of care for the elderly is a subject that has slipped off the agenda of some who have an attitude about it. This is a crisis for our elderly people.

From listening to people on the ground, the so-called care plans are not adequate. I receive complaints concerning elderly people who have been released from hospital, return home alone and receive only two hours per day of care support when they may need five or six hours of care per day. Recently, I dealt with a case of an elderly woman who was released from hospital and received two hours of care per day. She had to go down to a local centre for lunch, needed to be washed and clothed and required support at night. The care plans need to be beefed up.

This morning I visited the CARE project in my constituency, an excellent initiative which provides meals on wheels and home helps for people in the Artane, Raheny and Killester areas. The two issues on the organisation's agenda were funding and stability. It needs our practical support but the system for obtaining funding is inadequate. Its grants appear to fluctuate monthly. When one considers the services it provides, including 290 home helps and meals on wheels, it is incumbent on all of us, particularly the Tánaiste and the Minister of State in her Department, Deputy Power, to support this and similar projects which provide an excellent service.

The issue of day care services and places needs to be tackled and while we have some examples of good practice, we need to develop the area. On the broader issue, we are losing sight of many positive aspects of the elderly and their vital contribution to society. Many of those present at the meeting I attended this morning were elderly retired people who were involved in providing meals on wheels. I support them and commend them for their work.

This important amendment proposes that the Minister provide a statement of strategy detailing plans to fund care for the elderly in private and public nursing homes. It is correct that we can blame and challenge Ministers but society at large shares responsibility. Although we have done well economically, we have lost our sense of community and family. Issues are often misrepresented and people are too busy to take time to support the elderly in their communities. We must examine our own position, develop strategies and create a more caring society. I support the amendment.

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