Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I accept that HIQA is still in the process of recruiting staff and building up its operational capacity. I have been informed that it will be well resourced with a budget of €16.8 million in 2008 to meet the estimated cost of its planned worked programme, including the commencement of nursing home inspections. Budget 2009 provides €55 million for the implementation of the fair deal scheme next year. This brings to €900 million total funding for long-term residential care.

I commend the Minister for Health and Children and her officials on the introduction of this complex legislation. The introduction of the scheme will mean that all but those with the highest incomes should receive financial support from the State towards nursing home care. Furthermore, no one currently in a nursing home, public or private, will be disadvantaged by the introduction of the fair deal.

In my constituency, I commend two nursing homes, one private and one public, in the town of Longford. The facilities in the St. Joseph's-Mount Carmel Care Centre, a public nursing home on the Dublin Road in Longford, are as good as anything one would find in the world. Anybody who visits friends or relatives in the home will agree the matron and staff provide a caring service that is second to none. The patients are well cared for, and deservedly so. It is heartening for elderly people to know that such a facility is available. The Laurel Lodge on the Ballinalee Road in Longford is a magnificent state-of-the-art private nursing home staffed by tremendous and caring people who provide a 24-hour, seven day per week service. It operates to the highest standards. People have nothing but the height of praise for these facilities. It is great to know that conscientious and compassionate people work in the private nursing home sector. They are not just in it for the money. I have heard about outrageous charges being imposed in private nursing homes but that does not happen in County Longford. These people are certainly not in the business to become wealthy because the services they provide and the standards they adhere to indicate they do not run a money making operation. One could not make money by providing the best of everything for everybody in this home.

The HSE receives a lot of criticism, some of which is justified, but who is the HSE? In my county, I deal with the staff who work on the ground. I defy anybody to tell me the people who work in the county clinic and the health centre on the Dublin Road in Longford are not doing a good job. They are more than helpful in terms of assessing entitlements and facilities for patients. At present, they are diligently seeking nursing home places for people. The help is available and those who work in this profession are caring people. When commentators are critical of the HSE in the future, I ask that they be more specific in regard to whether they are criticising the administrators or the people at the top. One cannot be critical of the staff who are working on the ground to the best of their abilities. They are humans who do what they can to the highest standard.

It is important we look after older people. In recent times, we have experienced an unprecedented expansion of services for older people. Prior to the introduction of home care packages, very few older people received nursing or therapeutic care at home. This year, more than 10,000 people will benefit from the package. People want peace of mind rather than worrying where they will sleep tomorrow night. This Bill is fair from the point of view of short and long-term care for the elderly. In addition to home care packages, we have expanded home help by more than 500,000 hours. In 2007, 53,000 people received home help services and more than 11.75 million home help hours were provided. The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, introduced home care packages to provide nursing and therapy at home. This year, 11,000 people will benefit. Approximately 2,500 additional places in day and respite centres have been created since 2005. Since 2004, the Government has increased the budget for services for older people by €540 million. In this year's budget, €55 million is being provided to implement the fair deal, while home help and home care services have been protected.

Life expectancy in Ireland is now above the EU average, having exceeded it for the first time in 2002. The rapid increase in life expectancy we have experienced since 1999 is unmatched by any other EU country. At 79.6 years, Ireland's life expectancy is now more than one year longer than the EU average. Since 1996, life expectancy has increased by approximately four years. The fact that our life expectancy is nearly 80 years must say something for the people, the country and the Government. People have a will to live and, by living a happy and healthy life, they will last longer.

More than 50,000 elderly people were removed from the tax net between 2003 and 2007. Income exemptions for those aged 65 and older currently stand at €20,000 for single people and €40,000 for married couples. This is more than double the 1997 level. These were not increased in the budget. The social welfare pension has been increased from €147.30 per week in 2002 to €223 per week in 2008 and the weekly non-contributory pension has increased from €134 to €212 over the same period.

People will not have a problem with the 5% levy on property over three years. I commend the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hoctor, on her caring approach to looking after the elderly. She is the right person for the job because she does her best and means well. Elderly people have a friend in the Minister of State.

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