Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The rate of population growth among people aged over 65 is nearly double that of the European Union as a whole. It is projected to increase by approximately 20,000 per year between now and 2021. There is a projected increase of 46% in the number aged over 85 between now and 2021. This is a dramatic trend for our health services to meet, particularly if they are to meet the demand for nursing home places. It will mean a significant increase in the number of nursing home beds required.

What is astounding is that the Taoiseach, when preparing the service plan for 2014 last year, in respect of which plan he took a hands-on part because he could not trust his then Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to do it, actually budgeted for 700 fewer beds although demand was growing. The results have been dramatic. Every month in 2014, the circumstances worsen dramatically in terms of the number of people waiting for a nursing home bed and to become eligible to participate in the fair deal scheme. The cuts have been dramatic. In January of this year, 512 were awaiting funding, and there was a four-week waiting period for approval. In April, there were 913 waiting, with a six-week waiting period for approval. In June, 1,465 were waiting and it took 12 weeks to obtain approval. In October, a whopping 2,114 were awaiting funding and approval took 15 weeks. Therefore, the sickest in society were waiting 15 weeks to become eligible for the fair deal scheme, or for appropriate nursing home care.

In some instances, where the acute hospitals have transferred people in advance of their becoming eligible, the bills are now mounting to €3000, €4000 and €5000. Where people are in such circumstances for the full 15 weeks, some families face a bill of €15,000, which is extraordinary. I cannot understand how the Government is standing over this and why the Taoiseach decided to allow for this over the past 12 months. Does the Taoiseach accept this is a scandal in itself and that it is getting worse? Will he reverse the decisions he has taken and provide the funding necessary to enable the waiting times to reduce dramatically and those who are waiting to become eligible for the fair deal scheme to become eligible immediately?

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