Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to be given this opportunity to speak in support of the counter-motion tabled by the Government. Deputy Seán Power raised a number of points that I might address towards the end of my contribution. Regardless of political party, I hope we would all be in agreement that there have been vast improvements in the care of the elderly in recent years. I am not putting this down to political parties.

Day in, day out in my constituency of Dublin North, which I share with Deputy Reilly, access has been given to the fair deal scheme and financial burdens and worries have been removed from families who, because they could not afford to do so previously, have only now had the chance to place their loved ones in nursing homes of their choice. Given that more than 12,250 of 16,000 applications have been approved, the scheme is important. The cornerstone of any political party and mine in particular must be respect and care of the elderly and those in need.

As mentioned by other Deputies, there have been exposés on how care has not met the required standards. This situation cannot recur. The ongoing debate between the Ombudsman's office and the Department of Health and Children and the HSE has been distasteful. We should all have one goal in mind, that is, to offer and provide access to the best care available for elderly people. This provision is predicated on our being in a financial position to continue to fund such schemes, funding which amounts to €979 million this year.

That the Dáil is discussing this matter is important. Fine Gael might view this as an opportunity to row back on a disastrous interview conducted by its leader in respect of the HSE two weeks ago in which he effectively put forward a slash-and-burn vista of HSE job cuts all over the place. I know hundreds of workers in the HSE, as I am sure Deputy Reilly does. They provide home care and work in nursing homes and we need to do our best to support them. We will fall down on some matters, which is the reason we should not just throw out reports like the Ombudsman's. We must consider the issues that have been raised irrespective of whether we agree with the points.

Since we are discussing the HSE and the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, is present, I wish to mention care of the elderly. I am concerned that there is a threat hanging over my area of Dublin North as regards the Swords Dublin fire brigade ambulance service. Last year, it carried out 4,500 emergency calls, 30% of which were critical. I hope the HSE and Dublin City Council can reach a financial resolution to ensure this crucial service for the people of Swords, Malahide and surrounding areas receive this ambulance service. Like Deputy Reilly, I took the opportunity to meet the station's crew and staff in the past week or so. The work they do is exceptional. Petty squabbling between the HSE and the city council over funding the service is not on. A sizeable portion of the patients and people the Swords ambulance D134 looks after are elderly, the very people we are discussing. If we cannot provide this emergency service, it does not reflect well on us or the HSE. I do not mean to be too parochial, but this is an example of front line services being important.

I am pleased by the interest that has been shown in the HSE's early retirement and voluntary redundancy schemes for administrative grades. This is not a question of telling people to get out the door. Instead, it is about people making their own choices as to whether they wish to retire early. Our focus must be on the front line, continuing to provide care for the elderly and listening to and taking on board criticism. It is important that we retain the Swords ambulance service for the people of Dublin North.

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