Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with responsibility for housing, urban renewal and developing areas, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to address the House on sheltered housing for older persons. The National Council on Ageing and Older Persons is holding a conference today in Croke Park. It recently published a report, The Role and Future Development of Supportive Housing for Older Persons in Ireland, making the point that the current provision of sheltered housing for the elderly is insufficient. With the current rate of provision, it estimates only 23 units will be available per 1,000 elderly persons. As a result, many elderly people will remain in long-term care, even though they may not need the high level of care provided by nursing homes. They speak of a need to provide a range of accommodation options for elderly people in rural areas where there is a serious undersupply of accommodation. Will the Leader invite the Minister of State to the House to tell us how he will tackle this issue?