Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is a fact that life expectancy in Ireland has greatly increased over the last decade, which we all welcome. It is acknowledged by many experts that 50% to 60% of the increase in life expectancy in Ireland is a result of better health interventions. The remainder is a result of the growth in our prosperity. The result is that a child born in Ireland today will live longer than a child born in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and many other countries. We must welcome that. Almost 60% of the reason for that is better health intervention, particularly cardiovascular health.

Many issues raised here concerned appliances, such as wheelchairs, which are of great assistance, particularly to elderly people. I am assured by the HSE that these services will be available on the basis of medical need, as is the current situation, to people under 70. They are not exclusively available to those over 70 by virtue of their medical card. Many people who receive home care packages and home help hours do not have medical cards.

The transformation programme is underway in the north east. From the start of next year there will be an additional 800 or 900 home care packages in the region which will go to people on the basis of medical need. People who require home, clinical and other supports to allow them to live at home and have a higher quality of life will receive them.

Almost one third of those in long-term care in Ireland today do not need to be there if a decision was made on appropriate home supports at the time they went into care. That is why the transformation of the health service is——

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