Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

“That Dáil Éireann:

recognising that:

— the rate of growth for Ireland’s over-65 population is nearly double that of the EU as a whole;

— the number of over-65s is projected to increase by approximately 20,000 per year between now and 2021; and

— the number in the 80-84 age group is forecast to grow by approximately 20,300 people, or 29%, and the number of people aged 85 years and over will increase by 26,800, or 46%, between now and 2021;

noting that in July 2014 the Department of Health:

— briefed the new Minister for Health that these demographic pressures equate to an additional funding requirement of the order of €200 million per annum over the coming years;

— further briefed the Minister for Health that demographics indicate increased demand for long-term residential care; and

— estimated that it would appear that a minimum of an additional 7,600 beds for long-term residential care will be required between now and 2021;

further noting:

— that the 2014 Health Service Executive (HSE) Service Plan reduced funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, ‘Fair Deal’, by comparison to 2013;

— that the HSE provided for 700 fewer placements under ‘Fair Deal’ in 2014;

— the consequent increase in both the numbers waiting for a nursing home place under ‘Fair Deal’ and the time spent on the waiting list;

— that in February 2014 there were 654 people waiting four weeks to get financial approval for ‘Fair Deal’ support; and

— that in October 2014 there were 2,182 people waiting 15/16 weeks to get financial approval for ‘Fair Deal’ support; and

calls for:

— the 2015 HSE Service Plan to reverse the reduction in support for ‘Fair Deal’ implemented in 2014; and

— long-term residential care to be adequately resourced to take account of demographic changes.

I will share time with Deputies Seán Fleming and Barry Cowen.

This motion, in the name of Fianna Fáil Deputies, is about the nursing home support scheme, commonly known as the fair deal scheme. It recognises that the growth in the number of people aged over 65 years in Ireland is almost double that in the EU as a whole, and that between now and 2021 the number of those aged over 60 years is projected to increase by approximately 20,000 per year; the number of those aged between 80 and 84 years is forecast to grow by approximately 20,300, or 29%; and the number of those aged 85 years and over is forecast to increase by 26,800, or 46%. The motion also notes issues with regard to the Department of Health in July 2014.

We must start with where we are now, when more than 2,100 people have been waiting 15 weeks or more to be assessed and granted a nursing home bed through the fair deal scheme. This is an indication of extremely bad planning at the very least. One could also say it is heartless policy. This did not come about by accident or without the Government being aware it would happen. Many people on this side of the House, those involved in advocacy groups, professionals catering for people who need nursing homes and those who provide nursing homes forewarned this would happen. It was highlighted as far back as last year when the budget for the HSE service plan for 2014 was announced, which stated the number of beds would be reduced by up to 700 during the year.

At present only 22,061 beds are available for the fair deal scheme in 2014. This has decreased by 700 since last year as a direct result of the intended policies of the previous Minister for Health for dealing with funding for the nursing home support scheme. This was forewarned and foretold. I will read the figures into the record because they are stark to say the very least. One must bear in mind that behind every figure is an individual and a family waiting for approval from the HSE for a nursing home support bed. The number of people waiting to access the fair deal scheme has seen a fourfold increase since the start of the year. In January 2014, 512 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking four weeks. In February 2014, 654 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking four weeks. In April 2014, 913 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking six weeks. In May 2014, 1,265 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking seven to eight weeks. By June this had climbed to 1,465 people awaiting funding and approval was taking 12 weeks. By September 2014, 1,753 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking 14 weeks. By October, 2,114 people were awaiting funding and approval was taking 15 weeks. In nine months we went from the wholly unsatisfactory situation of 512 people awaiting funding and an approval time of four weeks to where we are now with more than 2,100 people waiting 15 weeks or more for approval.

It is often said inside and outside the House, and rightly so, that we judge society by how we care for older people. By any stretch of the imagination this record shows the Government has steadfastly refused to put in place funding to ensure older vulnerable people can have the dignity of being assessed in time to be approved for a nursing home support bed. They are not asking a lot after many years contributing to society. At the end of their time they should not have to wait an inordinate length of time to be assessed. A wait of 15 weeks for a bed to be organised puts a burden on the individual waiting for assessment and approval. It has an impact on families. Deputies are approached by huge numbers of people at their wits' end because they are liable for increased nursing home costs in advance of receiving a bed under the scheme. They cannot wait for the scheme; they need the bed today, tomorrow or next week and not in 15 weeks time, as is now the case because of the policies pursued by the Government.

We can finger point and blame all we like, but this is down to priorities. Funding was diverted from the nursing home support scheme to community care and home care packages. People outside the House have referred to this on many occasions. Money is being taken from one cohort and being given to another, but this does not mean the waiting list for the nursing home support scheme is being reduced because those on it do not necessarily require home care packages and increased home help hours. Home care packages themselves should be funded. The number of home care packages available has increased by 20%, but there is no direct correlation between increasing the number of home care packages and reducing the number of people waiting for nursing homes or high support units. This increase has not led to a corresponding decrease in the number of people waiting for assessment and approval for the fair deal nursing home support scheme.

There is time for the Government to rectify this. It has from now until the publication of the HSE service plan. We must see an increase in the amount of money available to the nursing home support scheme. If this is not done we will start 2015 with more than 2,000 people already waiting since this year and an escalation of the numbers in 2015. Nothing in policy or recent comment from the Government, Ministers or the HSE indicates a concerted effort to try to address what is now a crisis in the fair deal scheme.

Four years ago the now Taoiseach and then Leader of the Opposition, and the former Tánaiste and then leader of the Labour Party, stood on a truck on Molesworth Street and spoke very passionately about the need for us to ensure older people had all supports available to them.

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