Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I have been contacted by many families in recent months, particularly from my own electoral area, and some have been crying on the telephone about what is going on. All Members are aware that no matter how one dresses up these figures, between 2,000 and 2,500 people are waiting to gain access to the fair deal scheme. At present, it is not a fair deal but is a bad deal and that is how they are looking at it. A figure has been given out of a waiting time of 15 weeks. I know of several families that currently have been waiting for between 20 weeks and 24 weeks. As for the turnaround about which Members hear, it is not happening. The numbers in acute units in hospitals are building up and the mathematics in this regard do not stand up when one considers what it costs to take care of someone in a hospital as opposed to a nursing home. All Members of course agree that measures such as home help require building up but one cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. One must put money into the two different methods of looking after the elderly. There is another side to this issue that people have not considered. If a nursing home that operates as a 30-bed or 32-bed unit loses two to three people, it starts to make it unviable. One then will have job losses and down the road, one will have an entire system in chaos.

Members have gone down a road whereby they basically are taking it out on the most vulnerable. People who have worked for this country, made many sacrifices and helped in many ways, now are being treated as second-class citizens. Members should ask themselves whether they should hang their heads in shame at what is going at present in that they are not looking after the most vulnerable people. I acknowledge the Minister has recognised the problem but the funding must be made available. While it is great to hear the Minister for Finance state the growth rate next year will be 4% but when facing such a scenario, Members must look after everyone. These people, with a system that currently is in chaos, need help and I urge the Minister to examine this issue and to solve it straight away because it will give ease to families and to those who are waiting day after day to get the telephone call confirming they have been accepted for the fair deal scheme.

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