Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Tánaiste agree with the National Economic and Social Forum when it argued that for many older people, inappropriate or unnecessary admission to acute or long-stay residential care could have been avoided or, at least, delayed by the greater development of community-based services and the use of preventative and proactive approaches? Does she accept that, as well as the stricter standards which are clearly required in nursing homes, we need more emphasis on real and effective community care for older people and that this care in the community must have the same stringent standards applied to it as those which apply to residential care? The Tánaiste previously mentioned the importance of the community care approach. It is one thing to make broad brush statements but what is the working of the Department's policy pursuit?

Why, once again, has the commitment to provide a day care centre in Cootehill in County Cavan been placed on an ever-lengthening finger? Senior citizens in this town have long been promised this facility and I have continually raised this issue with the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. The Health Service Executive, HSE, is now reneging on the level of HSE-funded staffing and resources which had previously been signalled and committed to. Why is this scenario continually repeated and why are proposed dates for the commencement of this service continually put back? Many of those who have spearheaded the demand for this centre in Cootehill will never live to enjoy it. This is the reality. What is the Tánaiste's response?

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