Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the new charges of between €90 and €120 per week now being levied by the Health Service Executive on people with physical or intellectual disability who reside in a community residence where nursing care is provided, the result of which reduces their weekly welfare income to €35 per week, which must cover the cost of providing themselves with, for example, clothes and a social life. The Health (Amendment) Act 2005, which is intended to charge those who live in nursing homes, is now being applied to this vulnerable group, which will have a significant negative impact on their quality of life.

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