James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I agree with Deputy Flanagan that we must provide for the needs of people as they grow older. That is something we absolutely endeavour to do. Those needs can be met through various mechanisms, including hospital services, home help, home care programmes, long-term care and sheltered housing. Our aim is to allow people to remain in their homes as long as possible and to ensure they are treated at the lowest level of complexity, subject to considerations of safety, timeliness and efficiency, and as close to home as possible. That is the underlying principle of policy in this area.

Deputy Stanley asked whether there has been a technical examination of the building. While there is nothing in my notes to indicate that such a review has been carried out, I have been informed verbally that assessments have been made in the past and that the cost of refurbishing the hospital and bringing it up to standard was found to be prohibitive. However, I do not wish to mislead the Dáil and will not depend on my memory in this matter. Instead I will come back to the Deputy with a written response.

To Deputy Fleming, and his time machine, I will emphasise two points. First, all of the clients will be looked after. They will certainly be assessed as to their medical needs, as is proper and correct. However, their placement will be decided upon in consultation with their relatives; that is an absolute. Second, the Deputy claims that no saving will arise because the staff will be redeployed. Staff are redeployed to keep other services open, so there is a considerable saving. As I indicated, it is my understanding that the cost associated with upgrading the hospital is prohibitive. I undertake to send a written report on that to the Deputies.

The Deputy opposite is well aware that the Government of which he was a member brought this country to financial ruin, that we are suffering as a consequence across all budgets, that we are forced into a position-----

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