Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Instead, there should be better management of public finances and an attempt to deal with the appalling waste on a variety of projects over many years. Before entering the Chamber, I received a telephone call from a woman who was concerned about her father. He is in hospital and needs a bed in a nursing home. The family does not know whether he will get a contract bed. This case is replicated across the country.

Yesterday, the Carers Association launched a report entitled, Listening to Carers, which it undertook with the Equality Authority of Ireland. As every Senator knows, families are being unsupported because of cutbacks in home help services. The current system of delivering care to the elderly in communities is unsustainable because families, who do not have the necessary supports or provision of care, will not be able to cope. What has happened to the €110 million promised for the fair deal on nursing homes? Will it be ring-fenced or will it be siphoned off to address other emergencies?

Both Houses are entitled to be told by the Government how it intends to handle this economic crisis. In the absence of a clear plan or rationale, there will be HSE cutbacks and finances will be moved from areas of need.

I must again refer to the other report published since the House last met, the report of the expert group on mental health services. We have had several discussions here on the need to prioritise mental health services and to implement the strategy, A Vision for Change. Yet, the expert group which was asked by the Government to examine this area has advised it does not know where the money has gone. Some €24 million of €51 million funds allocated to implement the mental health strategy, A Vision for Change, have not been used.

I call for a debate on the economy to enable the Leader and the Members of the House to hear of the experience of Senators on the current situation. We must hear from the Government about how it intends to deal with the current crisis.