Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I do not accept the Deputy's assertion. In Ireland, the majority of nursing homes in the public and private sector are of the highest possible standards. Those that have and cause problems are a tiny minority but, even if it is only one, that is not good enough. I share the Deputy's view that older frail people are among the most vulnerable in society, many of whom suffer from illnesses of the mind and may not be in a position to understand what is happening and may not have family members or others who can care for their needs. That is the reason they are entitled to look to the State for the highest standard of protection and care. We have laws in place. They are deficient and that is the reason we are changing them. We want to move to a position where the inspectorate is independent of the service provider and where the regulation and inspection is so robust that if nursing homes do not meet the requirements, they will not be in a position to continue to care for patients.

Leas Cross nursing home has been closed. I do not know if somebody else will acquire the property and open it as a residential care centre. One of the lessons everybody must learn if they care for elderly people is that it is not acceptable to society or to the authorities to have a level of care that does not meet the highest possible standards. I do not accept we have left the provision of care to mainly tax-based schemes. In this year's budget, the largest ever package for care of the elderly of €150 million in a full year was provided. That by a huge margin is the largest package ever provided.

My priority and that of the Government is to try to support as many older people as possible to remain in their homes. Some 28% of those in residential care have either a low or medium level of dependency and may not, in different circumstances, have required residential care if there had been home supports. We are seeking to put in place home supports. This year, approximately 3,000 are being supported at home through home care packages in addition to those who have home help and other supports. In the coming years, we may need to move to support approximately 7,000 to 10,000 or, perhaps, 10,000, 12,000 or 15,000 as the population ages. Clearly that will take time. When that support is in place, many more will be able to remain in their homes. Whether it is at home, which is usually the desire of every older person and their family, or in institutional care, we want to ensure that as a society we provide the resources, the services and the statutory framework to enforce high standards in order that older people can expect to live out their lives in dignity, with respect and with high standards of care.

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