Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for tabling the question. We are looking at this issue intensively because we recognise the need in the future will be greater. I would like to assure the Deputy that the needs of our older people are, and will remain, a very high priority for me and the Government and that the resources that are available will be applied to provide the best possible mix of supports and services. Government policy is aimed at ensuring older people receive safe, timely and appropriate care and treatment at the lowest level of complexity, as close to home as possible and that they are facilitated and supported to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as it is viable. This is in line with the views expressed consistently by older people themselves.

Accordingly in 2014, there is an enhanced focus on home and community supports. Although the budget for long-term residential care has been reduced by €35 million to €939 million, it should be noted that €23 million of this reduction is being directly transferred to the community side. This allocation will strengthen community provision and allow more people to stay in their own homes for longer. While it is estimated that 900 fewer people will be supported in long-term residential care, this will be counterbalanced on the community side, where the €23 million will be used to fund the following: 190 intensive care packages to benefit 250 people annually; 25 intermediate-transitional care beds to benefit 650 people; 20 beds for complex cases to benefit 130 people; and maintaining the current level of public short stay beds provision of 1,860 beds which provide respite, rehabilitation and step down services. We are implementing the type of transformation we are trying to implement in mental health and disability in regard to older people and it is something about which we must be very conscious and sensitive.

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