Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State made a comment in response to the issues I raised during the debate on the instruction to committee motion. He said they did not come within his remit but that he would take note of them. When children with life-limiting conditions are discharged from acute hospitals back into the community, the cheque is paid by the local PCCC manager. Will the Minister of State clarify whether this comes within his remit, given that he is responsible for primary care? My understanding is it does, but I may be wrong. If it does not, does it come within the remit of the senior Minister or the other Minister of State in the Department?

The amendment I have tabled in this grouping is simple and straightforward. Where applicants have been approved under the nursing homes support scheme and it is financially possible to put a package in place to allow them to remain at home with home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and so on attending to them in the community and with the use of technology, this should be facilitated under the scheme. The difficulty is that when a person is unable to remain at home or being discharged from hospital and not fit to return home, he or she should have the option of receiving supports in the community, rather than shoehorning him or her into a nursing home. I expressed this criticism when the 2009 legislation was going through the House.

The amendment is straightforward and would save the Exchequer money. If the supports required for people to remain in their homes when they have been approved under the scheme are available at a lower cost, this should be facilitated and allowed. The Minister of State will argue that the scheme is under review. That is all well and good, but this proposal would save the Exchequer money and improve the quality of life of older people. There would be significant benefits across the board and this could act as a pilot project for the extension of such a service. A small cohort of people would be eligible and the objective of the amendment is to provide flexibility in this regard.

It is all the more relevant and appropriate now because technology has come on in leaps and bounds. Independent Living Ireland has an apartment on Connaught Street in Athlone. I encourage the Minister of State or any other Member to visit. Staff can demonstrate how they use different technological tools to appropriately monitor people with disabilities or older people in their homes to the extent required without going over the top. For example, a monitor could be placed on a kettle to ensure the person was up and moving about. If he or she flicks on the kettle, the monitor indicates that this has happened. Nothing more is needed because they now know the person is up and about. Naturally, such an individual would not be eligible under the nursing homes support scheme. However, if a more cost effective care package using technology to maximise the independence of clients in their homes can be put in place, surely that woud make more sense from a financial perspective, as well as, more importantly, from a community and a quality of care perspective.

The scope of the amendment is limited in that a relatively small number of people would be able to avail of it, but, surely, we should explore such a proposal. It could act as a precursor for its expansion when the review of the scheme has been completed. I ask the Minister of State to accept the amendment now and not to kick the can down the road until the review has been completed. Deputy Willie O'Dea published legislation last week along the same lines as the principle I propose. I hope the Minister of State can accept the amendment which would benefit society as a whole.

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