Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister for Health and Children is obviously concerned about this matter and how it could have arisen so early in the year. My understanding is that €100 million of the €1 billion allocated for the fair deal scheme was spent on other items. The Minister has commissioned an inquiry in order to determine within two weeks what exactly happened. All the money is for the care of elderly people but it must come from different subheads. The Minister is entitled to find out what happened in the first instance, report to the House and indicate how he intends to continue funding for this essential deal.

See this speech in context