Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue on the Adjournment.

A number of cases have recently been brought to my attention. In one case, the carer for a 93 year old woman who is almost blind had to go into hospital. Initially, it was not certain how long the hospital stay would last and an application was made for the provision of care to the woman in the meantime. It was refused. Fortunately, her carer only had to go on two individual days so the situation was not as serious as it might have been. This 93 year old woman has to have her food liquidised three times a day and the only support she was given while her carer was absent was one visit in the morning. This person has no living relatives. Her sister in law, who is in her 70s, lives eight miles away. She visited at lunch time and another neighbour helped in the evening. This is a typical situation where no cover is provided by the HSE and it is unacceptable.

Another case was that of an 86 year old woman who has had two strokes and is confined to a wheelchair. Her daughter, who lives with her and cares for her with the help of other carers, has been seriously ill following a difficult child birth. She wants to go for a week's holiday in June and when she asked for that, she was told it was not possible and that the family would have to look after her mother.

This is not acceptable. Money can be found for all sorts of issues but those are two cases from many. Another lady on the far side of Cavan is unable to walk. She was checked a year ago but has not been reviewed since. When she was checked, it was estimated that she did not need too much help. She must use a walking aid and she cannot get to the toilet in time. We all know the result of that. Any female would have an understanding of the dire needs of that person but she cannot get a carer when her own carer is absent.

I spoke to someone in charge of an outside agency. She spelled out the difficulties that occur in Cavan-Monaghan. She no longer wants to do business there because regulations are so lacking in understanding, sympathy or care for the elderly. She works in other counties where the situation is totally different.

This comes down to one thing. In the north-eastern area, which consists of four counties, there has been a massive increase in population. The budget for the region, however, was never increased and, as a result, there is penny pinching everywhere. I beg that this not be taken out on the elderly, the most vulnerable in the country. When millions can be found for other issues, as happened in the past few days in our own area, the few euro it would take to employ a carer or an agency worker to carry on for the few days in question must be provided. It is not so bad if there is a family who can help out but some of these people have no living relatives and it is desperately unfair on them. I spoke to this lady on the phone and she is a lovely person who does not deserve such treatment.

I urge the Minister to ensure, no matter what it takes, that people like her get the care they deserve in their later years. These people are saving the country a mint by staying at home but they are being penny-pinched.

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