Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

In the context of the fair deal scheme, most people accept it has brought certainty in terms of funding for relatives in nursing homes. It is clear, however, that the longer the review goes on, the more it undermines confidence and certainty in the scheme in terms of ensuring that funding will be in place when people need nursing home supports. I am amazed that in advance of the review up to 1,000 community nursing home beds will be taken out of the system. Some have already been taken out and 100 per month will be lost per month up to the end of October. While the nursing homes scheme has been a success in terms of bringing certainty to the funding, equally, the decision of the Government to reduce the number of nursing home beds in advance of the review being finished and adjudicated upon seems to indicate the cart is well before the horse in this case.

The terms of reference are critical. Public versus private care is an issue. I frequently look back over the transcripts of the Dáil to find out the thinking of the Government when in opposition. It is clear there was much concern at the reduction in the number of public nursing home beds but that seems to have changed completely in the past 12 to 14 months in terms of commitment to funding community nursing home beds.

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