Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I do not see this event today as a slap back to Senator Moloney for asking for that debate, which I think is what Senator MacSharry was suggesting.

As a member of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions I am concerned at the approach being taken by the Department of Health as set out in the presentations to that committee by the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly. The Ombudsman expressed concern about illegal practices by that Department in terms of its having already paid out ¤500 million for the illegal charging of medical card holders for long-stay care provided by health boards, which dates back to 2004. She also pointed out that currently, with regard to the Who Cares? report, a further 300 people are taking cases against the Department of Health, resulting in a potential expenditure of millions in settlement of those cases. I understand approximately 30 of those cases have already been settled. The point I am making is that the Department of Health has already paid out millions of euro owing to illegal practises by it. We had chapter and verse on that issue at the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions.

I would welcome a change of heart by the Department of Health such that it would not be paying out money in legal compensation but would be using taxpayers' money to provide the services required by the thousands of people with various disabilities, thus ensuring they do not remain prisoners in their homes. I am slightly confounded by the figures offered by Senator van Turnhout. I have received an estimate from the Department of Health, which I would like to put on the record as it does not square with that given by Senator van Turnhout. The national disability survey states that more than 59,000 people over the age of 65 either had difficulty walking for 15 minutes or could not do so at all. It further states that although the means test could result in a reduction in the number of people over 65 years of age who are eligible for the allowance, should the definition of disability be expanded to include people with a disability other than a mobility difficulty then the number of eligible people could increase further. It is therefore estimated that the additional cost could be in excess of ¤100 million per annum.