In the context of how we are spending national resources on health, I bring to the attention of the House the issue of care for the elderly and the effect of privatisation. Once again, I use examples I am familiar with from my own area and point to the community hospital in Thurles which we were told last year, amid great fanfare, would be upgraded at a cost of several million euro while the number of beds for the elderly would be reduced. In other words, a State facility was winding down the number of beds available to families who could not otherwise manage. There are many families who have elderly parents or relatives and do not have the resources to meet the high cost of nursing home care even with a subvention. I am acquainted with an elderly couple the husband of which supports on a pension his wife who has been in a nursing home for a number of years. No other resources are available to him, the subvention does not simply meet his requirements and he is crucified.