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

The neurological strategy is being rolled out. The one point on which I do not agree with the Deputy concerns the €23 million to which he referred. We must ensure older people have a choice in where they stay. A great number have expressed a preference to stay at home or, failing that, in their own communities. The figure of €23 million relates to this.

I wish to inform Deputy John O'Mahony that the fair deal scheme is not demand-led and this presents a difficulty. He is right to be concerned about this because it places great pressure on families. The sustainability of the scheme also presents difficulties. The report on the review of the scheme will be ready around the end of January next year and will tell us much but not everything. It will say much about the sustainability of the scheme. Families are paying nursing home fees out of their own pockets and the average cost is around €800 per week. In places where demand is highest and beds are relatively scarce such as in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick the costs can be even higher. Sustainability will be a difficulty if the contribution from the person in need of care is to be between €280 and €290 and the State is to pick up the rest. This applies to public and private nursing homes. If needs increase, sustainability will present a difficulty. The fair deal scheme is not demand-led, which presents another difficulty.

I do not agree with Deputy Denis Naughten on the figure of €23 million.

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