Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is unfortunate that the crisis in the funding for the fair deal scheme is escalating as the winter months approach as it puts more than 2,500 patients and their families in a dilemma. They face delays of up to four months and in the meantime, these additional patients are rapidly coming on-stream to a growing waiting list. The current crisis is exacerbated by Ireland having the fastest-growing ageing population in Europe, with more than 60 people per week being added to the waiting lists for nursing home places. There is a need to re-evaluate the solutions to stem the avalanche of elderly people requiring institutional care. Consideration must be given to more preventative methods, for instance to prevent premature cases of people ending up in long-term nursing homes.

There is a need for additional funding and resources to be allocated in respect of community care and community nursing. There is also a need for extra supports for day-care centres. In many instances, the latter are relying on voluntary carers and local fund-raising to provide the essential services required.

We must re-examine the stringent criteria which apply in respect of eligibility for carer's allowance. Applications are being refused on foot of an over-zealous interpretation of the medical card guidelines and, as a result, the caring relatives of patients are being wrongly deprived of social welfare assistance in many cases. There are those who provide 24-hour care and supervision in respect of their elderly relatives and many of them do not get any respite from this continuous care. They obviously become burned out and suffer from stress as a result and they do not receive any remuneration for the work they do. There is a need for the criteria to be relaxed in order that more of the applications made by these worthy individuals might be approved. We must put in place a system whereby these overworked carers might occasionally enjoy a break at weekends and proper holidays.

There is also a need to appoint more geriatric consultants in our hospitals in order that patients might be reassessed and re-evaluated and have their conditions re-diagnosed. In many instances, re-diagnosis can give people a new lease of life. We need to keep those to whom I refer out of long-term care if possible because the position in that regard is currently unsustainable. Additional moneys must be provided in respect of housing aid for the elderly. Such aid must be delivered quickly by the local authorities. I ask the Minister to consider the three suggestions I have made in the interests of ensuring that the majority of people might remain in their homes, if at all possible.

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