Mary White (Fianna Fail)

It is a current, serious, political national issue that the people who are in public nursing homes face. In the national service plan 2012, launched on Monday, one of the key items was the closure of 555 beds. However, if one has the patience to go through the document - the colleagues who know me well know I am an attention to detail person - its depths state the decision to close the unit will only be taken following an extensive consultation process with the clients and staff of long-stay units. If I was the Minister, Deputy Reilly, I would visit nursing homes to see and hear what the patients, families and staff are saying.