Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important issue which affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

As my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, mentioned, the policy of the Department of Health and Children is to maintain older people in dignity and independence in their own homes, and in accordance with their wishes, for as long as possible. Indeed, the majority of our older people are fit and well and leading full, independent lives. However, where this is no longer the case, the Department is committed to providing high quality long-term residential care. This is the minimum we can afford our older citizens who have played a major part in helping our country to achieve the success that it enjoys today.

The majority of long-term residential care is of a high standard and affords a good quality of life to those older people who live there. However, even with the best will in the world, there are always exceptions to the rule, and there will always be situations where older people feel vulnerable or, worse, exploited. That is why the Department is committed to developing quality standards and putting in place a robust inspection process for all nursing homes, both public and private. My colleague has outlined the steps that are being taken in this regard. These include the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority and the establishment of the social services inspectorate function on a statutory basis, with the office of the chief inspector having the function of registering and carrying out inspections, including services for older people. They also include the establishment of a working group by the Department to develop the standards for residential care settings for older people. Of course, the HSE will continue to register and inspect private nursing homes under the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993.

Coupled with these developments, the Department is fully committed to developing the services needed to tackle elder abuse, and in recent years there have been great strides in developing supports for older people who feel defenceless. The report of the working group on elder abuse, Protecting Our Future, was launched on 11 November 2002.

Elder abuse is a complex issue and difficult to define precisely. It may involve financial abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse, or it may arise due to inadequacy of care. It is defined in the report as "A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person or violates their human and civil rights." In defining elder abuse, this report has, hopefully, given older people, who feel they are the subject of abuse in any shape or form, the confidence to report their anxieties, as appropriate, to a social worker, a public health nurse, a member of the Garda Síochána or any professional or care worker.

The Health Service Executive has recently set up a helpline number, lo-call 1850241850, that is dedicated to dealing with allegations of elder abuse, and this should encourage those who feel they are being abused in any way, and those who witness such abuse, to make the necessary contact and have their voices heard. The importance that the Government affords to the issue of elder abuse is reflected in the fact that a total of €2 million was allocated in this year's budget to address the issue, split evenly between 2006 and 2007. Some €2.5 million has been made available in recent years towards implementing the recommendations of the report, and the level of funding put in place for the next two years will facilitate the implementation of the full range of recommendations. This funding will go towards putting in place dedicated elder abuse officers and clerical support in each local health office area. It will also provide for the development of a research function in this area.

The report also recommends that a senior case worker be appointed to each former community care area and it is anticipated that the Health Service Executive will shortly recruit a senior case worker for each local health office area. Among the responsibilities of the senior case worker, in conjunction with the appropriate health service providers, will be the assessment of suspected cases of elder abuse referred to the local health office area.

I agree with my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, that the Government has looked after and will continue to look after the elderly, the most vulnerable people in society.

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