Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to accept the Deputy's request that I put that forward at budget time.

I want to hit one nail on the head. There can be no comparison, as has been made, between the €240 per week for home care, €1,200 per week for a nursing home and €7,000 per week for an acute hospital bed. It does not make any sense and I am surprised at some of the Deputies who have offered those figures because I thought they would have understood better. Somebody who goes into a nursing home must have a full-time care need - that is, 24 hours a day nursing care with carers on duty 24 hours a day. It would probably be cheaper if that was to be provided in the family home. There would be 24 hours a day nursing care for the person in their home and maybe two carers on duty to take them out and wash them. That would likely cost €700, €800, €900 or €1,000 a week. Let us not mix up those particular sums. I want to make that point though it does not take away from any of Deputy Penrose's submission.

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