Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Section 9 of the programme for Government deals with care for the elderly, specifically the investment required for 30,000 of our citizens whose home is now one of the 580 private or public nursing homes in this country. Last week members of the Committee on Public Petitions were addressed by the Ombudsman, Mr. Peter Tyndall. He dealt with the issue of additional charges being levied on old-age pensioners, OAPs, for social activities in nursing homes, which has led to people being "impoverished by the charges", and having less money in their pocket than the grandchildren who visit them. He said people's autonomy was being eroded and they were ending up with a disposable income of €7 per week.

Will the Government examine the contracts for care in nursing homes and take into consideration the fears expressed by the Ombudsman in our committee hearings last week in respect of the impoverishment of our elderly?

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