John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join colleagues in requesting a debate on the elderly. For the past two months, I have sought a discussion on the future of supported care homes such as the home in Athlone to which Senators referred. I do not see why we cannot hold such a debate.

Supported care homes were established some years ago effectively as halfway houses for people who were not ill and, while unable to live independently, were not placed in nursing homes. HIQA standards are being used as a mechanism to close these homes, such as the home in Athlone which failed the standards. Why was money not invested to raise standards in the facility in question? As Senator Buttimer and others noted, the Government has made a policy decision to devolve control of care of the elderly to the private sector. The closure in Athlone is likely to be repeated in Kilkenny shortly. A supported care home was closed in Carlow a couple of years ago. We were lucky in Kilkenny because 30 years ago the Bishop of Ossory, Dr. Peter Birch, made a decision to donate many disused convent facilities in the county for the creation of five or six supported care homes. It is a shocking indictment of where we are that the Government is seeking to divest control of care of the elderly to the private sector. There are many people who have been residents in such facilities for years, for many of whom they are their homes rather than just nursing homes. It is not good enough that the Government, through the HSE and HIQA, is using new guidelines - rightly brought forward following the Leas Cross controversy - as a mechanism with which to close down what are not and were never designed to be nursing homes, namely, supported care homes, the residents of which do not require 24 hour nursing care. This provision is being implemented by HIQA and will lead to the closure of such homes across the country. We need action by the Government on the issue.

I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Mullen about the continuing delays in the Passport Office. There is a need for a resolution quickly to remove the difficulties people are experiencing in obtaining passports.