Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I second the amendment. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The amendment is worthy of debate because it highlights a number of failures on the part of the Government on delivering services to the elderly.

Of course, I welcome any funding which will help our elderly. It would be very small-minded of us if we did not do so. However, it is a drop in the ocean. Given the economic climate in which we live, much more money should have been allocated. One could do much more if additional funding was provided. Much more is needed, because as we sit here, elderly people are sitting in a chair in their home since they were put on it this morning, waiting for their home help to arrive and put them to bed this evening. This is the reality for many elderly people in the city and throughout the country. I do not believe anyone can be proud of this service. Neither do I believe the home care package will address the needs of thousands of people who need help.

Some 26% of older people live alone in this country, compared with some other European countries where 40% of elderly people live alone. We could look at these figures in a number of ways. First, we do not support sufficient people to enable them to live at home. Other countries give greater supports to elderly people who live at home. If additional hours of home help are required to allow an individual to stay at home, this should be provided. Providing home help for one hour per day to an elderly person makes a mockery of elderly people. In many instances, this is all that is provided, even though we know they need much more help.

Some 36.4% of older people's households are at risk of poverty compared with 23% of all households. As many older people are at risk of poverty, they need a lot of help, particularly when they are much older or if they have disabilities or are unwell. I agree with Senator Minihan that older people should be cared for at home for as long as possible if it is their wish. Older people do much better when cared for at home. Studies have found that older people's hearing, vision, dexterity and attention do better in the home environment when they must do things for themselves, rather than being put into a institution like a nursing home where everything is done for them. As many people like the comfort and surroundings of their own home, we need to put in place the funding to enable them to remain at home for as long as possible. The money which was made available in the budget will not do so. I know the Minister of State will say that he will work on this aspect in the coming years, but what has been done in the past number of years while he has been in Government?

Older people have been neglected. Home help is one of the crucial pillars of looking after the elderly in their homes. Home help in the North of Ireland is provided to 17% of older people. That figure is 7% in the South. Meals on wheels in the North of Ireland is provided to 26% of older people, while it is provided to 18% here. This indicates where the priorities are. Our people need these services.

I looked up the website of the National Council on Ageing and Older People. During the week of the campaign Saying No to Ageism, the results of a study on older people were announced. These indicated that many older people felt ignored or let down by the health services when they sought information. The study found that the health service was guilty of discrimination against older people. This discrimination was evident among upper age limits for breast screening and also for certain referrals for specialist treatments.

There was also evidence of prejudicial attitudes by staff to older people. I do not know how the funding which has been provided will address these issues, but I would like the Minister of State to take on board the points made by the National Council on Ageing and Older People. I believe there is discrimination against older people. We must change our attitudes and ensure that frontline staff are specially trained to ensure older people receive the answers and information they require in a caring way, and not be brushed off.

My final point relates to older people dying in hospitals. Many older people die without respect or dignity in many hospitals because they are dying in public wards. There is no dedicated room in most hospitals in which an older person can die. There are no facilities for families to get together to talk and grieve. This aspect must be addressed. When a person is dying he or she should be afforded some respect and dignity. We must ensure that every hospital has such facilities adjacent to the wards. It is the least we can offer older people.

While I welcome the funding that has been provided, it is a drop in the ocean. I hope it will be increased significantly on the next occasion. The money the Government has wasted in so many areas could be well spent in this area. The small amount of funding provided will not do much to help the plight of many older people.