Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I want to add to what has been said about the publication of the HSE service plan on Monday, and the ramifications and consequences that publication and acceptance of the plan last Friday by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, will have around the country. The plan will reduce spending in the health service by €750 million this year and 3,200 staff will leave the Health Service Executive. That will have a knock-on effect on the delivery of services in the country. I agree wholeheartedly with Senator White in that public nursing homes are being scapegoated. There is a proposal to cut 555 beds in public nursing homes and buried in the plan is a cut which has been approved by the Minister of almost 900 beds in public nursing homes. That was accepted by the Minister when he signed off on the plan last Friday. That is a fact.

We need the Minister to come to the House so we can hold him accountable and cross-examine him on where he will find a home for the 900 people he proposes to make homeless from public nursing homes this year. Which public nursing homes does he propose to close? Last November, the Minister in a radio interview stated that he would not close any nursing homes. The week before Christmas he stated that he would close nursing homes with fewer than 50 patients, which would include quite a few in my constituency. The Minister must be held accountable. He is avoiding the Seanad.