Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

——which is putting pressure on families to take older relatives, in particular, who need long-stay accommodation and care, into their family homes.

I would also ask that if we were to have a debate on this issue, we would look at the entire support services that are in place, particularly what are often referred to as home care packages or personal care packages. I detest the term with which families are often confronted, namely, that their father, mother, aunt or uncle is bed-blocking. It should be removed from the vocabulary of those involved in the services. If people are being asked to take their elderly relatives home over Christmas it should be done only on the understanding that there is a full home care or personal care package in place for that individual.