James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

We are all aware that there is going to be a major problem with regard to the funding of nursing homes. My difficulty with what I have seen so far of the Bill is that it refers to drawing down other resources before the family home is touched. How will this apply in the case of small businesses and farms? Will people be obliged to sell their businesses and use up all their assets before their family home comes into play? What will happen, for example, in the case of a young man who is running a shop with his mother and who decides to take over the business and invest money in it?

I cannot understand how the Minister or the House can envisage a situation, particularly in the aftermath of Leas Cross, in which we will seek further funding from people in respect of their care in their old age without first ensuring the standards of care in the relevant institutions will be set in stone. People entering nursing homes and their loved ones must be able to rest assured that they will be looked after in the best possible way. How will the NTPF set fees if it does not know what standards are reached? I wish to declare to the House that I have a 25% interest in a nursing home. The points which concern me are care of the elderly and the standards that will be applied.

Age Action Ireland is extremely concerned. The elderly is the first group to have this eligibility approach foisted upon them. Hundreds of thousands of euro are spent on cancer and cardiology patients but they are not asked to sell their homes. This issue requires a great deal of further discussion and elaboration. It works for some small groups of people but it certainly does not work for many others. I hope we have the time to discuss this matter and tease it out.

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