Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I propose to share time with Deputies Dooley, Johnny Brady, Power, O'Brien and O'Rourke.

The majority of our older people want to stay in their homes for as long as possible with their independence, dignity and family and community support. We wish that for ourselves and for the older members of our families but in some cases that is not possible and it is then incumbent on us to ensure there is equality and fairness in getting access to quality nursing home care. The nursing home support scheme, the fair deal, means a uniform system of financial support for individuals in public and private nursing home beds. It ensures individuals and their families do not face financial hardship. There has been widespread acceptance of that by most Members in this House and by people outside the House. They see equity and fairness in the scheme. Many people have made such comments to me and recognise what is available in the service.

It is important that the standards of such care are of the highest quality. Nothing else can be acceptable. If we have learned anything from the harrowing documentaries we saw on our television screens, it is that it is often traumatic for elderly people to move from home to residential care. It is a difficult decision for families to make and when people move into residential care, the care must be of the highest standard. They deserve nothing less. The Department of Health and Children accounts for one of the three highest spending Departments, along with the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Social Protection. Like any Department, it has finite resources. There is not an unlimited amount of money in the Department and in that respect it must live within its budget.

In providing residential care to the elderly, we have a mix of private and public facilities. In my constituency, we are fortunate to have an excellent quality of care. That is much more important than the physical buildings. In St. Mary's Hospital, Castleblayney, we have a residential public facility that has achieved ISO standard. It is a centre of excellence where the patient is at the heart of everything that goes on in the facility. My life in the town where I am based would be much easier if we had two or three more of these facilities, such is the demand for places. Recently I visited a facility outside Carrickmacross with the Minister for Health and Children were the McCoy family have developed the concept of a home away from home. The first thing that struck me when I entered the facility was that each unit has its own front door, doorbell and letterbox. One walks into a very inviting sitting room and kitchen and there is no need to go to the bedrooms. I was struck by the fact that people felt at home in their new place of residence. The McCoy family has made major investment in this facility and they make every effort to ensure the needs of their patients are met.

We are quick to give a negative rather than a positive view. We must recognise the good work carried out by many people working in the HSE. No organisation of that size could be without difficulties in dealing with so many people. We must live according to our means. I would like nothing more than to have an unlimited amount of money in the Department of Health and Children but the reality is something different. It is very easy to be on the sideline, shouting and knowing everything, but when one is asked to don the jersey and come onto the pitch and play one's part, it is a different reality. I commend the Minister and the Department on the increases in funding over the years and on the delivery of the fair deal. I am happy to support the amendment.

See this speech in context