Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

The fair deal scheme has been talked about for almost two years. In February 2007, we were guaranteed it would be in place on 1 January this year. Is it possible to secure a fair deal for those currently residing in nursing homes? Is the Minister of State satisfied that an old age pensioner in receipt of €218 per week should be asked to contribute €70 per week towards the cost of keeping his or her spouse in a nursing home because the amount of subvention has been capped? Is that a fair deal for ordinary people in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan? Dozens of people have been affected by the instruction issued to the subvention office not to increase the amount of subvention paid this year.

Which nursing homes in Cavan-Monaghan provide care for €531 per week, the guidance figure for the subvention office? Thankfully, the office is paying somewhat more than this. We do not seek a fair deal for future residents of nursing homes but for senior citizens currently in residential care. This matter must be urgently addressed and the sum of €110 million to which Deputy O'Sullivan referred should be used for this purpose.

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