Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague on the mortgage issue. The suggestion of a 20% deposit is certainly not fit for purpose. It is a reaction that shows an extraordinary lack of knowledge and ineptitude in the context of trying to nurture a market that is healthy and is not overheating, but that facilitates the normal trade where people can buy and sell houses in the normal way. Naturally, so that there is no misunderstanding, being involved in that sector I have an interest to declare in that regard.

Notwithstanding that the Minister for Health will be here later in the afternoon, I seek a specific debate on the nursing home sector. The leaked HIQA report shows that the authority suggests the level of non-compliance requires an investment of €300 million. As I stated, this is a leaked report, but it is worrying when one considers that the HSE is making available only €7.3 million to facilitate the necessary upgrades in that sector. This puts under threat 7,000 residents throughout the country in the nursing home area. As we all will be aware from our constituencies, there is a waiting list of 2,000 persons for those self-same nursing home beds under the scheme. This debate is needed urgently. There is no Government plan in this area, with a stated budget of €7.3 million and with the investment necessary, according to HIQA, only to remain safe, being €300 million. It is a matter of the utmost urgency. It is far too important an issue to bury in a broader debate on the budgeting within the health service which will be able to touch on it in the afternoon. It requires a specific debate of its own.