Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I do not have much time so I will touch on just two points, the first being that once again we are talking about money versus people. The Minister of State appears to be very supportive of the Sláintecare report, the introduction to which states that patients are treated on the basis of need rather than means. It should not be a money thing.

In his reply the Minister of State said that "Preliminary data from June indicates that about a further 60 approvals were provided for CHO 4 in that month." I had learned that it was actually in June when the social care division started to cap the transitional care approvals. I am not sure whether or not these are the blank cheques or the thanks one cashes in the banks. The Minister of State's reply also said that "the rate of approvals has reduced compared to the early part of the year." Of course it has, when they have capped it; nothing is happening.

We want this situation resolved. How we are currently treating our elderly people is disgraceful. We know there is another tsunami coming down the road.

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