Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not need to debate last week's legislation but the arrangements enacted in this case to support nursing home residents have been in place since 1993. Deputy Rabbitte's colleagues pointed out at the time the legislation was going through that it was deeply unfair. People with the same means and care needs can face greatly different costs in public and private homes and the Government decided a new, fairer deal should be created. It will take a year for this initiative to put that in place but the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, outlined the scheme on Monday.

In accordance with Towards 2016, the plan will ensure the same level of support for public and private nursing home residents and will involve co-payments between care recipients and the State. It will ensure that care is affordable for all, which is not the case at present as some people are forced to remortgage and sell their homes.

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