Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment my colleague on introducing this important motion, which gives us, elected representatives, the opportunity to echo what 5,000 to 6,000 voiced outside the gates of Leinster House today. Those 5,000 to 6,000 elderly people came out on a cold wet day to show their frustration and annoyance at how the Government has reneged on so many commitments its parties made in advance of the last general election. The people to whom I spoke in my constituency at the weekend feel betrayed. This budget represents a betrayal of the older people in our society. Where has the coalition's national positive ageing strategy gone? Was that consulted when the decisions were being made around the Cabinet table?

The budget for 2014 has made cuts to the medical card criteria, which will result in a minimum of 35,000 medical cards for people over 70 being taken out of circulation. It would be interesting to go back and listen to what some of the current Ministers had to say when income limits of €1,400 and €700 were introduced for the over 70s to get medical cards. Why have their opinions on those limits suddenly changed?

With the latest hike in the prescription charge, it is now fivefold what it was when the Government came into office despite no major evidence to show there is any reduced demand on medication. It was originally introduced to dissuade people from getting unnecessary medication. I do not believe there is any evidence to suggest this has worked. We know that when he was Opposition spokesperson for health, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, said he would abolish it. Not alone did he say it as Opposition spokesperson on health, on one of his first days in office as Minister he said he would abolish it. We have now seen a fivefold increase.

As my colleague has rightly said, the abolition of the telephone allowance is the meanest, lowest, dirtiest and slyest cut of all times. On Monday in my constituency clinic I met a man aged 82 and his wife aged 72 who came in to thank me for getting them a panic button, which had been secured after two or three young men broke into their house. The man is profoundly deaf and walks with the assistance of a Zimmer frame, and is minded by his wife. She said the panic button is their lifeline and they wondered what they would do without it. They said that if it was not for the panic button they would never have considered staying in the house on their own because they are petrified. They are petrified because law and order has broken down in the country. People of that age bracket are sitting ducks in their homes.

What else has the Government done? It increased the rate of DIRT so that the people who had saved a few bob in the local credit union or bank now think there is no point in keeping it there and will keep it at home instead. There is no incentive for anyone with a few bob to keep it in a bank or financial institution.

The Government has also scrapped the bereavement grant. Why does it target people who cannot speak for themselves? It is because when the people are six feet under they can no longer vote. Talk about a political act. When it is pointed out that the cost of funerals has increased, the Government suggests that people should shop around for an undertaker. What does it want the people to do in their time of grief and sorrow? Should they put it on www.e-tender.ie and see who comes in with the best price?

The Government has suggested that people can approach the community welfare officer to get a grant even though their budget has been slashed in the past three years. Community welfare offices in many rural areas have closed, including those in Ballynacargy, Rathowen and Multyfarnham. Where is the lady who used to carry out the clinics in those areas? She has been sent to Trim, which is 50 miles from Mullingar, and is paid mileage to get there instead of being available for the people in the rural communities who need her there. Where is the logic in that? It is blatant waste.

The Government has also cut the tax relief for private health insurance. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, referred to this as gold-plated health insurance. Whom does he think he is codding? I was contacted today by a 72-year old man and his wife, both of whom are on the State retirement pension. Last week they got a VHI bill for €3,270. They will not be going into the Blackrock Clinic or the Bon Secours Hospital with it. It is a fairly basic package providing cover to ensure that if they need a critical operation they will be able to get into hospital promptly. It provides them with peace of mind. Following last year's VHI increase and this new cut in tax relief, VHI advised him today that his premium has gone up to €4,200, an increase of 25%. I can guarantee the Minister of State that it is not a gold-plated premium. He asked me how they could pay it given that he and his wife are both old-age pensioners. He reminded me that the budget speech claimed that nothing had happened to the old people. From 1 January they will need to pay property tax for a full year. Last year the Government cut the electricity allowance. His wife lost out when the Government abolished the transition pension.

Last year the Government also seriously reduced the home-help hours. These all affect a generation of pensioners and grandparents, including my parents, who are thankfully still with me, who worked hard to build our country.

These people are not in a position to supplement their income. Their income is their income and that is it.

I am pleased the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, is here to deal with the motion because my final point relates to mental health and dementia. Many of our elderly people suffer from mental health issues and dementia. The Minister of State made a promise and she has reiterated it time and again during Topical Issues debates in the House to the effect that €35 million would be ring-fenced for community mental health for three years. In the first year the budget ran into the second year and in the second year, 2013, a total of 477 staff were promised. However, as of 30 September this year 4% of these staff have gone through the full process. Why is this? It is because we are going to kick that into next year's budget. We kick it in and the €35 million will be absorbed into the black hole that is the HSE budget. Where is the €35 million for 2014? Is it still in the back pocket of the Minister of State? That is where she said it was in 2012 and 2013. She said she had it in her back pocket and that it would be spent on mental health.

Mental health is not only an issue that affects our elderly; it affects everyone in society. Mental health is of such importance that people on all sides of the House come in time and again to raise the difficulties facing many people. These people are not getting sufficient support in their communities. How can they get the support they need in their communities when the Government continues to break promises made in the programme for Government in the full knowledge of the financial constraints? I call on the Minister of State to answer that question. Where is the €35 million for 2014 gone? It is gone where everything else has gone: into the black hole that is the HSE.

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