Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister of State that long-term care is a last resort. However, the traditional care structure has been shattered by the Government's approach with respect to the carer's allowance, home help hours, respite grants and so on. Will the Minister of State agree that delaying or adjusting budgets in this manner, as has been done in the area of mental health in terms of the time delay in respect of a critically important appointment as set out in the HSE service plan last year, is having a devastating affect on families who need the support of the fair deal scheme, particularly those with elderly family members who are stepping down from illness in an acute setting? The Government's decision in this regard is impacting greatly on such families.

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