Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

Everyone is very concerned about this but the days of spinning a message are long gone. We must be honest and open with people and there is a substantial shortfall in the necessary funding to provide long-term care for elderly and not-so-elderly people. There is no disagreement between myself and the Minister and we are looking at how to best provide for the long-term care of the people for whom we are responsible into the future.

Applications are being accepted and processed. When funding becomes available, approvals will be forthcoming; as of now there is a shortfall in the budget. Items were paid for out of the subhead which should not have been paid for in that way. We are not saying anybody made off with the money, as it was spent in nursing homes on people who needed the services. They should have been paid for out of a different subhead. That position is clear to most people and we must be clear with people from here on. There must be honesty and openness rather than a notion that there can be a spin on bad news.

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