Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have ten minutes. We call on this and the next Government to commit to increasing annual funding incrementally for the fair deal scheme by an additional €125 million in order to increase nursing home bed numbers by 900 in year one, 800 additional beds in year two and 700 additional beds in years three, four and five. We call on this and the next Government to commit to increase home help hours and home care packages in year one by 10%, at an estimated cost of €31 million, and by a further 10% on the baseline year in years two and three with a resulting rise in spending of €93 million and we call on this and the next Government to establish an emergency department task force on a permanent basis.

These are all realistic and achievable proposals. The only thing that is required is the will of the Government of the day to pursue such measures. One hundred years on from 1916, let us ensure that we live up to the ideals of those like Dr. Kathleen Lynn, ideals that are still as relevant today as they were back then. Let us implement the appropriate changes that have the potential to make a real difference - changes that will safeguard the health of all our people. I invite everyone in this House to join me in helping make that our shared and collective legacy.

I urge all voices in the House to support the Sinn Féin motion.

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