David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I wish to speak to amendment No. 17 which goes 98% of the way to matching the Labour Party amendment which calls for the complete abolition of the means test. One can see the logic in that because the means test costs a certain amount to administer, involving staff, time and effort. While a carers' strategy is being brought forward, it is a shame this was not done and completed within the lifetime of this Dáil. I hope the strategy will involve the idea that people are best cared for in their own homes, for as long as possible. Everyone in the House agrees that people are happier in their home environment.

I do not know whether the Minister is aware that the Danes stopped building nursing homes in 1997. Most people in Denmark die at home because the home supports and care are so good. We need a paradigm shift in our view of carers which has developed in an ad hoc way. That is why I welcome the idea of a carers' strategy. One could regard it as a green paper on carers because this is such an important area.

I acknowledge what the Minister and the Department have done for carers in recent years, increasing the thresholds and the amount of money, and introducing the respite care grant and so on. There is a further step required, however, to ask what the carer's allowance is for. The Minister will say that it is not a payment but a support. It encourages carers and we need to encourage more people to become carers. We need to focus on carers to ensure they have pensions, get training, recognition and certification and that they are cared for too. Most important, we need to ensure there is an adequate number of carers. I worry that, because the means test takes into account the income of one's spouse or partner, thereby disqualifying one from the benefit, many might not bother to become carers in the view that they will get no support or recognition. If we can encourage more individuals to become carers, the benefits that will accrue to those receiving care will be enormous. Less important, but important nevertheless, the cost to the State will be reduced dramatically. Nursing home charges can vary from €800 to €1,000 per week in some instance whereas carers can do the same work for a fraction of this amount.

This matter needs to be examined. The Minister intends to rattle off points he has made previously and he might spare us from hearing them again. He will talk about the carers' strategy, which we acknowledge is on the way——

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