Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Deputy Tom Hayes raised the affordability of nursing home care, which is an important issue. As Deputies are aware, if somebody is in a publicly funded or publicly provided bed, 95% of the cost is paid by taxpayers. If, however, he or she is in a private bed, some 60% of the cost is paid by the person being cared for. This is a major burden on families and individuals and a cause of considerable worry and trauma. It was for this reason that the fair deal legislation currently before the House was introduced. I look forward to moving this Bill into committee early in the new year.

On the number of people affected by the measure, 355,000 people aged 70 years and over have a medical card. While some of these persons are aged under 70 years, the card is granted on a family basis, which means that if one partner, either the husband or wife, was aged over 70 years, his or her spouse was also given the medical card. This accounts for some of the figure. The Government's decision did not affect 215,000 of these people because they received a card based on their means. Some of them received a card while aged in their 60s and retained it when they reached 70 years. The only people who were ever affected by the budget announcement were those who received the medical card by virtue of their age. Many of this group were not affected by the initial Government announcement.

The change means gross income will be used. I am sure we will debate this issue more thoroughly on Committee Stage. We are constantly told how poor everybody is, yet on this issue it appears Deputies are suggesting that virtually everybody will lose the medical card. They cannot have it both ways. Data are available on the earnings of older people over the age of 70 years. We are satisfied——

See this speech in context