Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I echo the comments of Senators Kelly and Ó Murchú regarding the fair deal scheme. It is well designed but the major issue is the delay in arriving at decisions. Clarification is needed on whether the delays result from a lack of funding or from administrative difficulties within the HSE because families are being landed with large bills from private nursing homes while patients await decisions on applications under the scheme. As Senator Kelly said, acute beds in hospitals, which are needed, are being tied up and this, in turn, is extending hospital waiting lists.

Will the Leader organise a wider debate on the care of the elderly and on private versus public sector care provision? Last year, a new community nursing unit was completed in my home town. It is practically idle because nursing staff are not available to transfer patients who would qualify for care in that unit from other facilities. Other issues relating to care of the elderly need to be examined. I do not seek a debate next week but perhaps during this session we could have such a debate with the Minister for Health in order that we can achieve the best outcomes for the elderly and the best return for the significant amounts spent by the State on the provision of care to the elderly. That would be a useful debate.