Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

-----from people who were very concerned because an application was made but approval was not granted. That was clearly unnecessary in the context of what the Minister said in the House today, namely, that they will now be approved in chronological order of application. In my view and that of many others, the way it was handled and the stealthy way it was cancelled for a period prior to any statement coming through was wrong.

On the broader issue of the fair deal scheme, it is obvious that if the numbers are as projected, there will be an increase of approximately 1,700 from last year and funding will have to be provided for this, which everybody acknowledges. At the same time, the programme for Government, to which both parties opposite have signed up, states there will be an increase in funding year on year for care for the elderly. This is one of those years but we are seeing no major increase-----

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