Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a valid point that is raised by Deputy Healy-Rae and the Minister is well aware of it. There was €40 million in extra funding for a winter initiative, including €10 million for home-help hours and home-care packages. Deputy Healy-Rae is quite correct as often the last person to be asked where he or she would like to be is the senior citizen or elderly person in question. Of course, these people have every right to be in their own homes, beds and corners of their own rooms if that is at all possible. That flexibility is there. The decision is whether a home care package will provide the comfort and assistance that the person needs in his or her own home until that might not be possible and he or she has to go to an institution. The flexibility is there but I will remind the Minister of the Deputy's comment.

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