Donie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The Leas Cross nursing home experience is a serious issue which is alarming and worrying. It is one that all Members wish never took place. It is a wake-up call and Members must do their duty to ensure the same never takes place again. Having served on the Midland Health Board for over 18 years, I acknowledge the great work done by the nursing and professional medical staff in caring for all patients and improving standards immensely, compared to what they used to be many years ago.

The cherished people in our community are our senior citizens. These are the parents and grandparents who did not experience the buoyant economy we now have. They encountered many difficulties from the First World War, the Rising, the Civil War, the depression, the Second World War and other challenges. These people, now in their 70s, 80s and 90s, the autumn of their lives, should be enjoying their retirement in comfort. Members get no pleasure in seeing how they can assist the Minister for Health and Children and her Department in addressing the experience of Leas Cross nursing home. We must be thankful to the RTE investigative team which brought this experience to the knowledge of Members and the public which proved what we were witnessing was not hearsay or some allegation but a fact.

The people about whom we are speaking are the cherished generation. Members on all sides of the political divide want to do all they can for them, especially in this time of plenty. The economy cannot be blamed for lack of action. When I became a Member of the Oireachtas in the 1980s, representing rural areas of counties Westmeath and Longford, it was often said that many objectives could be achieved were it not for the dreadful shortage of money. We can no longer use that excuse because money is now available. A particularly sad aspect of this matter is that there are currently 100 to 150 bed vacancies that could be filled if the correct structures were in place to allow people avail of the facilities to which they should have access. With careful planning, such facilities would be available in the north County Dublin area.

Deputy Cregan mentioned the subvention for the elderly. My experience with constituents in the midlands suggests that the subvention must be examined and addressed seriously. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, who is a former Minister for Health and Children has vast experience in this area. I hope he will, in the forthcoming budget, seriously examine the regulations in regard to this subvention. One must be almost penniless before one can avail of it. The full subvention seems to be given only to people who have no home in their name, practically no money in the post office or bank and are confined to bed and unable to move around independently. Unless he or she is in dire circumstances, a person of 80, 90 or even 100 years of age will find it difficult to qualify for the full subvention. The excellent staff of the HSE have little discretion in this matter but must follow the regulations. A person with any more than €20,000 and a small cottage, for example, is not entitled to a subvention. This situation is unsatisfactory. Patients always live in hope that they will recover and be able to return to their own home.

The carer's allowance currently amounts to €180 per week. A decent increase in this payment might allow people to take time off work to look after an elderly relative in their home. In such cases, the elderly person would have no need to go to a nursing home. Carers are one of the groups of unsung heroes in our communities. I have often said such people should get a gold medal for the sacrifices they make and their dedication to the communities they serve. They are fantastic people. Now that the economy is strong, we should show our appreciation by including in the next budget a substantial increase in the allowance. In many instances, people would not have to go to a nursing home if such an increase were granted and a substantial discretion allowed to HSE officials in local areas in assessing their needs. Perhaps two carers could be assigned to look after a person in his or her own home, for example, one during the day and the other at night.

We are fortunate in Westmeath and surrounding areas to have many magnificent facilities such as the Maple Court nursing home in Castlepollard, which I often visit, the St. Camillus centre in Killucan, the Newbrook nursing home in Mullingar, Portiuncula Hospital, and the facilities in Multyfarnham and Tyrrellspass. The proposition before us today is one from which we can all learn. We may show our determination in this regard by assuring the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, that he will have our support should he seek increased funding from the Minister for Finance in the forthcoming budget.

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