Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Rural Independent Group for tabling this extremely important motion on an issue that affects people in each and every one of our constituencies, including my own in County Meath. I would like to reassure Deputy Danny Healy-Rae that as someone who comes from a farming background and who spent the first 15 years of my life on a farm, I fully understand the importance of farming communities and the contribution they make to rural Ireland. I also fully understand the contribution of small and medium enterprises. With that in mind, I want to assure all Deputies that I am committed, along with my Government colleagues, to removing any discrimination that affects farming and small business families. I understand there is some urgency about this issue and every Deputy who contributed to the debate referred to that fact but this time last year the Government was only one month old. I was only one week in office and with all the will in the world, to have something ready for last year's Estimates was just not possible. However, I am giving a commitment now that this issue will be flagged in the context of the Estimates for budget 2018.

The original intention was to establish all of the legislative changes required to the scheme on foot of the recommendations of the review of the scheme which was published in 2015. Obviously, this took into account far more than the issues that are being discussed here today. The intention was to address and implement all the amendments collectively. However, in recognition of the concerns that have been raised by the farming and small business communities, by my own constituents and by many of the Deputies here, I will prioritise and fast-track changes to the legislation to deal with the uncertainty that is being felt by farming and business families and to provide the certainty called for in line with the commitment made in the programme for Government.

I assure the Deputies that I recognise the sentiment underpinning their motion and agree with many elements therein. However, as I have already said, we have been undertaking considerable work over the past while to bring forward developments in this area. The motion calls on the Government to implement very specific policy initiatives to deal with any inequalities within the fair deal scheme in respect of the treatment of family farms and small business assets. I am sure Deputies will appreciate that considerable policy work has been taking place in the Department in terms of exploring and assessing the various approaches to dealing with all these issues. These are complex matters and it is important we wait for the completion of the examination of the issues, which is at an advanced stage, to ensure that an appropriate, sustainable and robust solution is brought forward which has a sound legal basis.

I assure the Deputies that it is my intention to bring this matter to a resolution as soon as possible. However, I cannot commit to the proposed timeframe in the motion because further work is required to bring forward legislative changes. We must also be cognisant of the busy legislative agenda of the House. That said, I have prioritised the issue and have directed that the work on the examination of the matter be finalised as quickly as possible with a view to moving forward with legislative proposals soon. I must stress again that we will bring forward the proposed changes relating to the issue in the context of budget 2018. We will honour the commitment made in the programme for Government to remove any discrimination against small businesses and family farms. I acknowledge that some people are under severe pressure. I am aware that while people can plan ahead to some degree, they cannot plan for the unforeseen and we must take that into account.

I must point out that the future financial sustainability of the nursing home support scheme is of vital importance in terms of ensuring that we can provide the care that our older people need, as well as to the overall continuum of our health service. I want to add my voice in appreciation of those who work in our public and private nursing homes and those who provide care for our elderly on a daily basis. The nursing home support scheme is a vital piece of the wider health care system and it must be allowed to continue to operate successfully. We must continue our work on the overall review of the scheme. I met representatives from nursing homes in County Meath today. They were quick to remind me that this motion refers to small businesses and that there are other small business owners who are affected, namely, those who own and run nursing homes. We must continue with our pricing and value for money review and ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible.

I am absolutely committed to promoting care within the community for older people so they can continue to live in their own homes, with their own families, in their own communities, surrounded by the people they love for as long as they want and as long as is possible. It is my firmly held view that long-term nursing home care should be the last resort after home support and other community based supports have been exhausted. In this regard, my Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland. This process will consider the future design of both the funding and the regulation system for these crucial services.

Deputy Kelleher raised the issue of the regionalisation of the nursing homes offices. Obviously, following the review that took place in 2015, a number of recommendations were made separate from those relating to legislative changes and the value for money review. One recommendation was to reduce the number of offices from 17 to 15 in order to improve efficiency and responsiveness and to ensure that there was greater expertise available within the regions. That is being progressed at the moment.

I assure the Deputy that there will be additional support within the acute hospitals and the community to ensure local knowledge is maintained. I can speak to the Deputy about that later if he wishes.

I would like to conclude by repeating that I intend to honour the commitment we have given in our amendment this evening. My intention, and that of the Department, is to remove any discrimination against those involved in the farming and business communities. We will ensure they receive a fair deal. I intend to continue to make progress with the overall review of the nursing home support scheme in the context of budget 2018. I thank the Deputies again for raising this matter. I appreciate the specific proposals they have made. I hope they understand that I cannot accept them while the current process is continuing.

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