Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am talking about the fair deal scheme. This is not about political gamesmanship. This matter has caused a great deal of distress and concern to many families and individuals who were in the process of being assessed and approved for funding for nursing home support under the fair deal scheme. To date we have had conflicting views in terms of the Minister's statement that the immediate issue of funding had been resolved; that anyone who had been assessed would be approved under normal procedure; and that a review would be carried out simultaneously and the HSE's statement that it will continue to assess but not approve applications. There is a divergence of views on this matter.

When the Minister, Deputy Reilly, assumed office he took ownership of the HSE and amid a fanfare of publicity arrived at its headquarters and sacked the board. However, to date he has been shy in regard to pointing out where the funding allocated for the fair deal scheme in the Estimates and budget went and whether that funding had been misappropriated. The Minister said on a number of occasions that he had concerns about where the money provided for the nursing homes support scheme went and whether it had been misappropriated. The HSE has stated that all funding went to care for older people in accordance with the various subheads. This is causing a great deal of concern and anxiety among older people. Also, there is absolute confusion between the Minister, who runs the health services, having appointed a new interim board and the HSE.

I would appreciate if the Minister of State could tell us tonight that the HSE is wrong in not approving people who have been assessed for the nursing home support scheme. This would bring clarity to the issue. I would also like to know what is wrong with the budgetary provision allocated last year. This matter was brought to the Minister's attention when he assumed office around 6 or 7 March. It is clear from the briefing documents the Minister received at that time that there were difficulties with funding going forward in the context of the anticipated level of demand which was over and above that of last year.

I know that the Minister of State is committed to her responsibilities in this area. We all welcome the fair deal scheme, which has addressed the concerns of families and individuals in regard to how they will fund nursing home care for their loved ones or themselves. We must ensure we do not create further anxiety in this regard. The following is stated in the programme for Government - this was obviously written late at night or in the early hours of the morning and certainly not in Government Buildings: "Investment in the supply of more and better care for older people in the community and in residential settings will be a priority of this Government." It also states: "Additional funding will be provided each year for the care of older people." I am quite certain that the people who wrote this were at the time aware of the budgetary position and constraints facing the incoming Government yet it is stated that additional funding would be provided each year. I am assuming that includes 2011.

The scheme was suspended for a time. The Minister was eventually flushed out and made a statement that the immediate issue of funding had been addressed pending a review. It is hoped that the Government will live up to its commitment in the programme for Government that additional funding will be provided each year for the care of older people. The programme also states that funding will go to more residential places, home care packages and the delivery of more help and other professional community care services. While the programme contains a strong aspiration for support of older people we would really like to see people put the money where their mouths have been over the past number of years and months in particular to ensure the anxiety, fears and concerns of families and their loved ones are addressed immediately.

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