Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

We must impose significant fines in such cases. I acknowledge that it is terrible to have to do so but we must look after our elderly people.

I agree with Deputy O'Sullivan's comments about the enhanced nursing home subvention. I experience difficulties with this subvention every day. People may receive the full enhanced subvention in Dublin but the people in my constituency of Kerry South are struggling.

I spoke to a woman by telephone this morning who was looking after her father and mother-in-law. She applied for the carer's allowance and was informed she was entitled to an allowance for one of them because a distance issue arose. She must now choose which relative to care for and there is no one to care for the other relative. I will raise with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the need for some leeway in this respect, particularly in rural areas where people can travel ten miles in a shorter time than they can travel the same distance in Dublin. A carer can look after two people. It is better for a family member to look after a person who needs caring than for that person to have to go into a nursing home. More flexibility is required in regard to the carer's allowance. I ask the Minister to raise this issue, as it is all part of the package. If more people cared for family members at home, fewer people would be in nursing homes.

I reiterate the point I made about the penalties that should be in place. If inspectors find something wrong in a nursing home, will the Minister give an assurance that a large penalty will be imposed?

I support the provision in the motion to facilitate whistleblowers. Without whistleblowers in private or public nursing homes, hospitals or elsewhere who will blow the whistle on the shoddy treatment of a person we cannot expect to know what is going on. I fully support the provision in the motion to facilitate whistleblowers.

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