James Bannon (Fine Gael)

In welcoming the Minister of State to the House, I wish to condemn this motion in the strongest possible terms as nothing more than the self-congratulatory spin we have come to expect from this lame-duck Government over the past year or so. While the Government's new-found mantra emphasises care of the elderly and keeping them within their communities and their homes, a new report by the National Council on Ageing and Older People provides evidence of ageism within our health and social services. The research uncovered concrete examples of discriminatory practices experienced by older people or witnessed by health or social care providers in every part of the country. Last week's budget announcement will do nothing to help the more than 40 people awaiting admission to nursing home care in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath.

The Minister of State mentioned an additional 250 beds but told us that 200 of those will be provided in Dublin and a further 50 in Cork. That will leave none for the people of rural Ireland, who have already been grossly neglected in terms of community services and accommodation in nursing homes. That is a shame on this Government. Two weeks ago, I raised the issue of home help in rural Ireland with regard to neglect and the hours that were cut. This budget has not addressed that issue.