Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

The economic situation of this country has changed. On the one hand, we do not have primary care units and, on the other, we do not have nursing homes. Given the State's finances, I do not believe the Department of Health and Children will be in a position to provide primary care units or nursing homes. If the policy on primary care centres has changed, perhaps the Minister will indicate the nature of the new approach. If our policy remains the same, we need to offer reliefs to ensure its delivery and I ask for a clarification on how we can marry the policies of the Departments of Finance and Health and Children.

I have raised the issue of nursing homes with the Department of Finance as long ago as last September. I simply advise it to consider the country's demographics and the number of nursing beds currently being provided, including in particular the number delivered last year. We cut off reliefs last December but we should find ways of accommodating nursing homes and primary care centres in light of our current economic difficulties.