Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The public will not accept it. That is not the way in which multi-millions in public moneys should be spent. The legacy of the Government will revolve around opportunities presented and not seized.

I welcome some of the measures relating to health. These are the product of a health policy that does not treat seriously the needs of older people and that has allowed the grass grow under our feet in respect of the huge challenges we face in dealing with those needs. Although the changes relating to home-care and nursing home packages are welcome, they will merely deal with the symptoms of a system that is not able to cope rather than changing that system. Home-care packages are already almost exclusively available to people who are, as the euphemism has it, "blocking beds" in our hospitals. Such packages are not available to people who need support in order to remain independent. It is only when the system breaks down and these people become ill, present at an accident and emergency department and are transferred to a hospital bed that the possibility of a home-care package being offered arises. I welcome that additional packages are being provided. However, this is not a serious policy designed to deal with the issue of care.

I also welcome the enhanced nursing home subvention. Let us not forget, however, that the Government regards an old person on €420 per week as too wealthy to receive even one cent in nursing home subvention. That is not equity. The people to whom I refer will occupy beds in nursing homes — side by side with those who will pay €120 for their beds — and will be obliged to pay €1,000 for the privilege and, perhaps, sell their homes. That is not caring equally for the children of this nation. It seems that when people grow old, they do not receive equity of treatment.

People will welcome the €16 and €18 increases per week in pension payments. However, let us be blunt and honest. Increases in VHI and doctors' fees will account for approximately €4 of these increases, as will the increases in energy prices. In addition, the tax take will account for another €3 of the remainder. There will not be much left for old people to spend on luxuries.

The Minister has introduced a small increase in the free fuel allowance to acknowledge the huge burdens with which families must cope. Let us not forget, however, that only one in seven of all social welfare recipients qualify for the allowance and that only 7% of contributory pensioners are entitled to it. In the aftermath of the budget, many older people will experience little change in their circumstances.

This was billed as a green budget. I have sought in vain for evidence of a serious effort to green the budget. It was St. Augustine who said "O Lord make me virtuous, but not yet". That is what is happening here.

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