Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. It deals with fundamental and vital issues at the centre of maintaining a core level of decency and support for vulnerable groups in society, particularly older people. The population is ageing rapidly, with advances in health care leading to a dramatic rise in the older population. Each year, the total number of persons over the age of 65 is growing by approximately 20,000.

In government, we have worked to protect older people through the most difficult of the budgetary adjustments in recent years. The free travel pass has been protected and recognised by us as both an integral benefit for older people and also as an important contributor to local economic stimulus. Every year, some in opposition would stoke up a fear or worry that the travel pass would be revoked or cut, but we ensured it has remained a core benefit for older people. The travel pass allows elderly people to engage with and contribute to their local communities. That is increasingly important for older people who live alone and need to be supported in independent living. Support for older people to remain living in their community, in line with a balance for appropriate residential care places, is an important plank of the programme for Government. It is also in line with the positive ageing strategy national goal to: "Enable people to age with confidence, security and dignity in their own homes and communities for as long as possible."

Resources have been scarce and it has been difficult to get to the levels of support to which we aspire. However, as the recovery takes hold, we will have the ability to do more and to deliver more. According to Alone, up to one third of residents in residential care are capable of living independently in their own homes and communities. Independent living with supports would provide a massive saving to the State over nursing home care. At the same time, it would free up much needed residential care beds for people who cannot live independently. I raised the matter in the Dáil this year in the context of the fair deal scheme, and the need to ensure it is demand-led rather than resource-led. Following the debate, the Minister with responsibility for disability and older people has changed the policy direction of the fair deal scheme in this regard, which is very welcome. However, it is very important to get the balance right between services to keep people at home and nursing home supports. Currently, resources are wrongly skewed towards nursing homes.

I support the call in the motion for home help hours to be maintained in line with demand. That must be assisted by adequately funded housing adaptation grant schemes within local authorities. In addition to funding, we need adequate personnel in the relevant departments to process and act on applications in a quicker manner. I know from experience with my local authority in Fingal that the hard-working staff in the architect's department simply do not have the personnel to process the workload of applications. In addition, there is an annual funding ceiling which can delay much-needed adaptations. I support setting a target for waiting lists for the housing adaptation scheme and housing aid for older people scheme to perhaps a maximum of six months. If targets are matched with the appropriate resources, we can make further efforts to show how the recovery will benefit those most in need.

We must apply a mix of strategy and funding to the need for independent living and we must bring an end to the bunker approach. A mix of supports need co-ordination, for example, carer's allowance and the half-rate carer's allowance, which we have protected in government, housing adaptation grants, home help hours and new primary care centres. All these are support structures which aid independent living for older people. I welcome the progress on the new primary care centres throughout the country, especially in my area in Balbriggan, in Fingal and in Swords. The provision of primary care centres has the capacity to further assist older people to live independently as comprehensive medical care will be provided within their communities.

We must end the bunker approach Departments can have and examine an integrated approach which will best serve individuals in need of support. The increase in the living alone allowance which was provided in last year's budget must be, and I am sure is, in a state of ongoing examination to ensure it reflects the extra cost of living for those people who live alone. The Christmas bonus payment was partially returned in last year's budget, and I will make the case for a further restoration of the payment in the upcoming budget. The Christmas bonus is an important measure to allow pensioners and families on low income a little support in providing for a better Christmas. I thank Age Action and Alone for the material they contributed in advance of the debate this week.

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