Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is the first time we have had the opportunity to put questions directly to the Minister since news of this issue broke on 18 May and yet it appears, very strangely, that we will not hear answers from him. I have the height of respect for the junior Minister in the Department answering, as she has, although the answers are most disturbing. It would be doubly disturbing for the Minister to sit silent through all of this.

Does the Minister or Minister of State acknowledge that over the period since 18 May - the issue dates from 16 May - many older people and their families have been and still are very concerned about the future of the fair deal scheme? We cannot lay enough emphasis on that. I presume we are all cognisant of all that was exposed in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme last evening, which is a backdrop to this afternoon's exchange. How many older people are currently awaiting approval and in acute hospital beds? That number was speculated yesterday to be 477; that is almost 500 older people awaiting approval and access to nursing home beds across this State. They are currently in inappropriate acute hospital beds in hospital sites the length and breadth of the State. How many others are at home under the loving care of families or home care packages? What is the total number of people awaiting approval? When will approvals recommence?

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