Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I wish to raise many issues in the income tax sections but they can wait until we have more time during the debate on the Finance Bill. The pension provision looks reasonable in resolution No. 9. It is difficult to know what provision an elderly person should make for their pension.

An issue arose today with the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, on nursing home charges and the provision a person should make in the case of his or her being reliant on a pension so as not to be an undue burden on his or her relatives. Nursing home charges cost €60,000 to €70,000 per year in Dublin and €40,000 to €50,000 elsewhere in the country. Up to today's budget, if an individual or family were paying that cost they would have received tax relief at the marginal rate of tax. In other words——

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