James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I would like the Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate the inadequacy of the nursing home subvention. This might help to relieve the hardship and financial stress imposed on families throughout the country. I know families and relatives that have mortgaged their homes to pay for elderly parents and relatives in nursing homes. The subvention has not kept up with inflation and there has not been an increase in several years and we all know the high cost of private nursing homes. The cost of heating oil, insurance and wages have all risen considerably in the last two years, yet there has been no increase in the nursing home subvention.

There is a crisis with regard to public nursing home spaces with the result that people are forced to send their elderly relatives to private nursing homes. It is important we debate this issue, as it is a very sad reflection on our society when we see people having to mortgage their homes in a time of plenty in order to look after the people who served this State well over the years. Perhaps the Leader will urgently arrange a debate and try to pressure the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to increase the nursing home subvention.