Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste seo a thógáil tráthnóna. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children.

As the Deputy is aware, Government policy on older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not possible, we support access to quality long-term residential care. The Health Act 2004 provides that the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. The provision of these services, including community hospitals at local level, is therefore an operational matter for the HSE, as a statutory body.

The current long-stay residential care needs for older people in the Kerry area are met by the provision of continuing care beds in community hospitals, public voluntary units and contracted beds in private registered nursing homes. On 27 October the new nursing homes support scheme, A Fair Deal, commenced. The scheme will equalise State support for public and private nursing home residents and ensure nursing home care is affordable for all who need it.

The construction of the Tralee community nursing unit was completed in December 2008 and it is currently at the equipping stage. This unit will provide 50 residential care places for older people in the Tralee catchment area when fully operational. An equipping-----

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