Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have all seen how challenging Covid-19 has been for older people, those living on their own and people living in nursing homes. Nursing homes are at the heart of their respective communities, meeting the vital healthcare requirements of a cohort of our society during a difficult time in their and their families' lives. Nursing homes are very much a home away from home and a safe place in which loved ones can be cared for. The major increase in our older population will present big challenges for our healthcare services within our regions. It is crucial that public investment in long-term care services is maintained for those who need it.

Care must remain accessible and affordable, including for those families with a farm or business. I have been saying for a long time that the fair deal scheme needed to be fairer, and now it is. I met many farming families who told me of their concerns regarding how they were assessed. I welcome the fact that after three years the value of family-owned farms will no longer be considered when calculating the cost of care for people in nursing homes, where a family successor commits to working on the farm or in the business and allowing them to be passed down to the next generation. That is an important point. Farming is part of our history and culture, and in that context we must ensure that we get this legislation right. I am delighted with this Bill because it will protect our family farms and businesses. By inserting additional safeguards to the scheme, the Bill will promote and protect the sustainability of family farms and businesses. It will ensure they are not consigned to the history books.

Updating the nursing home support scheme legislation to enhance protection for farmers and business owners was an absolute priority for the Minister of State and I applaud her for her work. This legislation has been her priority since she became a Minister of State, and especially in recent months. I have spoken with her several times and I know she has faced many obstacles, but this is a really good Bill and it is good for our farmers and businesses. This is what we must do to protect the most vulnerable in our society. The Minister of State shares my desire to find ways to support and enable older people to live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. In that context, this again is a great Bill and I support it. However, we all know we must do more when it comes to achieving the goal of finding better ways of enabling our population to stay at home while ageing.

I have been speaking to families and many of them would like to have their elderly parents in their homes. This aspect is a priority for the Minister of State, and we must look at more supports in that regard, including more funding and full-time care. It is a matter for another day, but I ask the Minister of State to examine that area as well. We are lucky that people are living longer. It is great to see that happening. My mother at home is 86 and my sister is her carer. We are so lucky. They have had all their vaccines now as well, which is great. I got my vaccine yesterday, and I am delighted. Things are changing.

I compliment everybody involved in nursing homes. It has been such a difficult time. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been very hard on nursing homes, but they have been absolutely brilliant. We must express our thanks to all those involved for what they have done for elderly people. It is important that we do that. We appreciate all that has been done and we must show that. Life is precious, and if we have learned anything from Covid-19 it is that we must make the best of what we have and try to work with, be kind to and look after people.

It is the Minister of State's role, as she has responsibility for older people, to put their needs first. I thank her for that.

We have discussed the issue of rental income in respect of the fair deal scheme. That is an issue for another day.

This Bill is to be welcomed. I have spoken to many family farmers in my own area of Carlow and they are delighted with this Bill. They feel that they have been waiting a long time for it. Indeed, it has been in the pipeline for some time. Now it is here. This Bill shows that we, in Fianna Fáil and in government, are committed to looking after our older people.

I have only question left for the Minister of State. What is the timescale with the Bill? I am delighted that many of the parties are supporting the Bill. As it is such an important Bill, I am wondering about the timescale. It is important that we try to get it through the House as soon as possible. Perhaps the Minister of State can write to me, providing me with details of a timescale and how long the process will take. I urge the Government and all Members to get this legislation through the House as soon as possible.

I wish to thank everyone involved, including the Department and the Minister of State, for putting such hard work into it.

See this speech in context