Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator MacSharry on tabling the motion. As those on the Government side have acknowledged, this is a very important motion. A country is often judged on how it treats its older people. Given that the population of such individuals in this country is increasing, as proven by statistics provided by the HSE, NGOs and the Central Statistics Office, there is a need to focus on how we intend to care for the elderly into the future.

I spoke to the HSE manager in my county and he acknowledged there is a difficulty in respect of this matter and also there is no plan. While feedback from each of the areas has been fed into a central HSE framework, there is a need for a dedicated stream of funding to be made available. In 2002, the then Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Mary Coughlan, initiated a funding model and commissioned Mercers to compile a report in respect of the industry.

It looked at future demand and the international experience. While the HSE operational plan for 2013 and the service plan in 2014 acknowledge the increased demand to date and the fact that it will continue to increase significantly in the years ahead, there appears to be a lack of any plan as to how such demand will be met. Many of us have older people in our families. Everyone's objective is to help elderly persons live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Older people will always favour that as the first option. Unfortunately, in certain circumstances of family life and physical difficulty, there may be a requirement for an elderly person to use the services of a public or private nursing home.

Figures have been mentioned on the cost of care. One can quantify the cost of a public or private nursing home but it is a debate that may not be completely relevant to the long-term projection. Cost must be looked at, however, in the context of the differential between a private bed in a private hospital versus a public bed in a public hospital. In some instances, there is a difference of 300%. Obviously, there is an additional cost to be borne by the taxpayer as a result.

Senator Mooney touched on the issue highlighted in the Health's Ageing Crisis: Time for Action document. When elderly people are in acute hospital settings, the cost per week can be approximately €6,000. The cost in a private nursing unit can be €750. Members often deal with situations where a family gets in touch because an elderly relative is in hospital and needs respite care. The hospital may feel the person is not competent to be allowed home and there is a sudden breakdown in the system because there are no residential care beds available in community hospitals or nursing homes. It is regrettable and must be challenged.

Senator MacSharry is 100% correct to highlight this issue and to call for the Department to initiate and lead a forum to develop a policy in this area. Such a policy would cover the financing of long-term care in a capital expenditure context, examine demographics and consider the lack of commitment by the Government in light of the 2014 service plan. There will be 700 fewer nursing home beds available in 2014 than were available in 2013, notwithstanding the fact that there was a backlog at the end of October 2013 of 394 people waiting for nursing home beds. If one adds the backlog to the 2014 cut, it suggests there will be a cut of more than 1,000 beds, or 5%.

There is a lack of commitment and forward planning and it must be addressed. Ultimately, the HSE is well aware of the figures and forward projections for our ageing population. While it is great that we have an ageing population and to see people living longer with a better mortality rate than existed many years ago, Government policy and financing must go hand in hand with it. If people cannot live independently, they must be facilitated to live in nursing homes. I see the Minister of State is nodding her head, but the sad reality is-----