Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I wish to speak about the delay in administering the nursing home repayment scheme. What is happening is a disgrace. People who applied in 2006 have not been informed yet whether they will receive money. Others were written to and advised their applications were mislaid and others were sent application forms suggesting their applications were incorrect, which is not right. Will the Minister lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the nursing home repayment scheme detailing what has been paid, how many applications have been received and what the position is with regard to repayment? Is a quota system per month in operation? People want to know.

What is the situation with regard to the fair deal legislation which was promised more than 12 months ago? Every time we inquire about this, we are told the Bill is coming soon. I hope it will not be sprung on us in the last week prior to concluding our business and rushed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. It needs to be debated. Is the Leader in a position to indicate when we will have the Bill? Will we have it prior to the summer recess or must we wait further? People are in limbo with regard to subsidies for their elderly parents and relatives and they do not know where they are. It is about time the Government clearly indicated what it intends to do in this area.