Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reason the nursing home support scheme is oversubscribed is probably the lack of availability of home care packages. It is a little haphazard. Currently families struggle to get increased levels of support that would enable them to keep their elderly at home. Many would take that decision. I do not think that County Donegal, with 4% of its elderly people being cared for at home, is that unusual. If the supports were available, we would see far higher levels of home care throughout the country. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State is starting the consultation. I hope that it will not take seven years to develop the scheme and that the scheme that is developed will facilitate families and the elderly and not simply push them into the hands of private operators.

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