James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let us be realistic about this matter. I have not denied that there is overcrowding in our emergency departments and neither have I denied that a problem exists. I have set out to address that problem.

The budget relating to home help hours was restored in 2013. In this year's budget, we have taken additional money out of the long-term care nursing home support scheme in order that we might provide more innovative ways to allow people to stay at home rather than going into long-term care before they need to do so. People do not want to enter such care any sooner than is necessary. Regardless of how nice nursing homes may be, I know of no one who wants to be in one unless it is really necessary. We do not often - the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government certainly never did - provide a range of alternatives in that regard. There is a need for a more tiered approach and we must explore the position which obtains at facilities such the excellent one in Waterford operated by the Holy Ghost Fathers, which I visited. People use the latter as their home but they are not in a nursing home per se. At another facility in Carlow, people go out during the day before returning to stay at night while others stay during the day and go home at night. These individuals need a range of services which will help them maintain their independence and address the issues which arise for them as they get older.

My commitment to addressing the health services issues in question remains unstinting. I am utterly determined that we will fix this problem. However, we have always stated that the introduction of universal health insurance would take two terms of Government.

See this speech in context