Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I raised this question because during the Kildare by-election I was taken to task on the doorstep by a lady involved in home care. I promised to check it out for her and the reply I received said that everything was perfect. However, that lady, who was involved in providing the home-care service, was adamant that the hours had been cut. I am confused about that point. Deputy Twomey took up the matter subsequently in the Dáil.

According to the Minister of State's speech, there seems to have been no consultation with outside groups concerning this Bill. The Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and the Department of Health and Children were involved in the process, but no input appears to have been sought from outside bodies. No Opposition amendments were accepted in the Dáil debate, although the Minister of State referred to tabling amendments on Committee Stage.

As the Bill adopts a standardised approach, there is a danger that it will tie the hands of officials who hitherto had some discretion in awarding nursing home subventions. It remains to be seen what limits will be put in place. I plead with the Minister of State to seriously examine my suggestion to have some scheme in place so people can plan for the future. In that way, they would avoid the financial pressures of nursing home care in later life. The public would be happy to take that route. Half the population has private health insurance, while others choose not to avail of such schemes. Major costs are involved in nursing home care and much heartache could be prevented by establishing a scheme to provide for such future costs. Some elderly people can find themselves in difficult financial circumstances. This is also the case for relatives of single persons because 5% of the value of their property is taken into account. That is where difficulties can emerge.