Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Considerable uncertainty and fear has been created by the announcement that tax relief for care in nursing homes will be changed from the marginal rate to the standard rate. Ministers have issued contradictory statements about this subject. The Government is also hiding behind the fair deal proposals, on which there is also confusion. These details should include eligibility criteria. The scheme provides for high dependency but does not outline how the dependency will be defined. There is a necessity to clear up this matter.

On the overall budget, will there be a cap on the numbers who can participate in the scheme and will a limit be set on the spend for the scheme? When will the full details of the fair deal scheme be brought before the House? Will the health expenses relief be amended as part of the social welfare Bill and when will that Bill be brought to the House? On another social welfare matter, will the Social Welfare Bill include a provision to exclude those over 70 from paying the 2% health levy or will that be set out in other legislation?

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to debate agriculture, an issue that has been raised by a number of Members in recent months. The ill thought-out measures included in this year's budget will have severe consequences for farming.