Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not want to see any person in the category mentioned by Deputy Adams out on the streets. Elderly people were out before when a decision was made about medical cards. They were very articulate and vociferous and knew exactly where the sore point was. Some of those people were in wheelchairs. I do not want to see that, nor does the Deputy.

The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, has already visited a number of community nursing homes and is now involved with those communities in looking at the imaginative and creative ways in which they want to assist in the provision of extra facilities in order to keep open some of the community facilities and nursing homes that might be in danger of closing down.

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