Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The level and quality of care available and provided to our elderly vulnerable people and those with disabilities is a vital issue. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter today, for which I thank the Women's Parliamentary Caucus. As Sinn Féin spokesperson for older people, I am aware of the difficulties our older, more vulnerable citizens experience in accessing health and home care, especially in rural areas. Ireland has the fastest ageing population in Europe; 15% are 65 and over. That percentage is predicted to grow to 26% by 2051. We need adequate services for our older, vulnerable and less-abled people in health and home care. We need community services to allow them to live their lives to the fullest extent. We do not have those services. Instead - at the risk of repeating myself - we have a recruitment retention crisis among healthcare workers, difficulty assessing community care, overcrowded hospitals, bed shortages in hospitals and nursing homes, overreliance on the private sector for care provision, no right, as of yet, for a care partner and insufficient housing adaptation funding. I am dealing with a lady in my constituency who has been waiting for a carer for eight weeks. She is down to about 3 stone and has nobody to look after her. It is a disgrace.

The Minister has been in government in one capacity or another for the past 12 years. These issues have only got worse, not better. It is beyond farcical that this Government, effectively ag caint le dhá bhéal supported the living wage motion for care workers this year, only to do a U-turn and cut funding to home help hours to cover the cost. We need a Government that will prioritise a system that cares for all of us as we age, now and for future generations. In government, Sinn Féin will commit to building a fit-for-purpose health service to provide the care our older and vulnerable citizens need by enabling them to live independently for longer in their own homes with adaptation grants to bring their homes up to the standard they should be and with home care or residential care, if that is their preference. We will also introduce a mandatory living wage to include work-related travel expenses to combat the recruitment crisis in home care. We are aware that everyone is not getting that wage. We will provide funding to improve access to social and community supports and more hospital beds to ease pressure on hospitals. Change is needed and change is coming. Sinn Féin is that change.

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