David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important issue. I agree with Senator MacSharry on the lack of accountability in the HSE. Over recent years we have all been subjected by the previous Minister for Health and Children to the best impersonation of Pontius Pilate I have ever seen in my lifetime as a politician. She took no responsibility for any of the scandals that surfaced in respect of the health service. We all know, as I know from my time as a local councillor, that when we brought something to the attention of the Minister, we were referred to the HSE or the Department. The issue was passed around and it was difficult to get any answers to questions posed. The same is true for questions raised by Deputies.

With regard to the fair deal scheme, the Minister stated recently that there was tremendous confusion between the HSE and his Department. Has that confusion been addressed and sorted out to the Minister's satisfaction? He spoke of some strange figures coming through from the various parts of the HSE. He spoke of confused messages and stated that money which belonged to one subhead had been spent on others. We are talking here about tens of millions of euro. How could this happen? That it could happen flags the lack of accountability in the HSE.

I would like to touch on two other issues. It is very important that people are cared for in their homes for as long as possible. The Minister of State will be aware, as her party is committed to this, of the need for the publication of the national strategy for carers which will deal with the needs of carers, those they care for and home helps. A national strategy for carers must be published that will deal with the needs of carers and of those in need of care. I agree with Senator Bradford who made the point that home help care needs to be built up. In my county, Waterford, many people have seen their home help hours cut. We cannot have a situation where, yet again, the vulnerable are the victims of cutbacks because of the IMF deal or the austerity measures being put in place. We have to protect the weak and vulnerable, and the elderly, which means providing more home helps, and ensuring that carers and those they look after and people in nursing homes get the very best treatment possible. That is why it is important that the fair deal scheme is properly resourced. What we need is universal provision of State care for the elderly.