Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about a number of issues concerning the programme for Government relating to health, particularly the care of older people in community care. The programme for Government clearly states that:

Investment in the supply of more and better care for older people in the community and in residential settings would be a priority of this Government.

Additional funding will be provided each year for the care of older people. This funding will go to more residential places, more home care packages and the delivery of more home help and other professional community care services.

The Fair Deal system of financing nursing home care will be reviewed with a view to developing a secure and equitable system of financing community and long-term care.

Those are clear commitments in the programme for Government and I want the Taoiseach to confirm that we can look forward in the coming days to funding being provided to ensure more home helps, more professional community care services and more residential places.

Regarding the commitment to establish an integrated care agency under the aegis of the Minister for Health, when can we expect the establishment of that agency? On the area of bio-ethics, as per the programme for Government, can the Taoiseach outline when we can expect legislation to clarify the law surrounding assisted human reproduction, including the law relating to personal relationships arising from assisted human reproduction? That is a clear commitment in the programme for Government. Second, there is a commitment to legislate to regulate stem cell research. When can we expect that legislation?

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