John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I compliment Deputy O'Dowd. I am glad the Minister of State is present because the State's conduct towards older people is totally appalling and negligent. The whole country experienced shock, disgust and revulsion at the content of last night's "Prime Time". It has once again highlighted how the State has failed our most vulnerable. This is a repeat of the nursing home charges scandal, when senior Government figures knew about legal charging of patients in contract beds for the past four years and ignored the fact that the Bill was fundamentally changed in 2001.

Quality of life for those living in nursing homes is totally dependent on the nature and standard of care they receive. From my experience in Sligo, all the institutions are exceptional and staff take to their calling with care and affection, whether working in private or public nursing homes. Having visited caring institutions throughout Sligo and Leitrim, what was evident on our television screens last night was in no way the practice in those counties.

We must make provisions against those who will not abide by common decency and who treat those they are supposed to be looking after with disrespect. It is shameful that the Government was aware of the problem, yet did nothing. It ignored the problem. The level of State funding for those in private residential care has not increased in 15 years. Subvention is €190 per week, yet the rate of private charges has quadrupled.

A framework of quality in long-term residential care for older people in Ireland was published in 2000. Its stated objectives were to maintain our elderly in dignity and independence in their own homes, restore the elderly who become ill or dependent to independence at home and encourage and support the care of the elderly in their own community by family, neighbours and voluntary bodies in every possible way. If our elderly cannot be maintained in dignity and independence at home, we must provide a high quality of hospital and residential care. This is where the State has failed dismally.

Another report was issued in 2002 by the working group on elderly abuse, entitled Protecting Our Future. It is critical that people who built our future are treated in such a manner. It is 2005 and the Government has not acted. It has spent millions on reports on the elderly but nothing has been done. The Government has failed the medical, nursing and all care professions by allowing a small number to damage the reputation of many good people who carry out fantastic work.

The amount of money spent by families on the provision of services is extraordinary. Other providers are obliged to obtain quality marks, such as ISO 9000, the IQA award and hotel accreditation awards. The provision of care services is very demanding and can cost up to €1,000 per week, but there is no regulation. Where is the political accountability? Will this scandal produce another Michael Kelly? Will another secretary general have to present his or her head on a plate as in the case of illegal nursing home charges? The former Minister, Deputy Martin, did not accept political accountability, but the current Minister must do so.

Where is the initiative from the Minister? Long-term residential care is a critical part of care services and should be treated as such. It should be provided to a standard so that residents experience health and social gain from the services. What do people in the 80s feel about going into long-term care? They are hugely concerned. Attention must be focused on quality and effectiveness of long-term care services rather than on the provision of such services to a minimum standard, as is happening. For a small number of people it is about minimum standards and high profit, which is utterly appalling.

Change and regulation is needed but we do not have either at this time. There should be movement on the part of the Department of Health and Children. The Government has failed the caring profession by not introducing regulation. The vast majority of the caring profession are totally innocent but could be regarded in the same light as those shown in last night's documentary. There is no statement of policy, uniformity of standards, independent inspector or mechanism of quality assurance. Public health carers have been let down.

This Government should be ashamed of its lack of movement in respect of care of the aged who are the most vulnerable in society. It has failed on the illegal charges issue and it has failed on this issue. We must introduce regulations to promote quality assurances in all private, voluntary and Health Service Executive long-stay facilities.

The Department of Health and Children gave no leadership or political accountability on this issue. I heard the Minister of State on radio this morning. He cannot pass the buck on this issue. He is the person in charge and he should insist that regulations be introduced forthwith. We do not need to spend €1 million on introducing a report that will be shelved like the five reports going back to 1998 on the care of the aged. It is a disgrace.

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