Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 13, the Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015, be taken before No. 1. Over the past number of weeks we have seen people in hospitals and particularly accident and emergency departments who are waiting on trolleys and various services. All of us are aware of the multiplicity of issues, and I know there has been focus by the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, in trying to reduce those numbers. It is welcome that this has happened. We are just waiting for another spike nonetheless.

The fair deal scheme must be examined in great detail. This successful scheme was initiated by a previous Government and it allows people who need nursing home care to access it with the costs to be defrayed. It works well but it is underfunded by this Government. Figures were published yesterday by the Department of Health on waiting times. In January 2014, there were 512 people awaiting funding, with four weeks for approval. At the end of January 2015, there were 1,332 people waiting on the national placement list for funding, with the waiting time averaging 11 weeks. There is something broken in the system and it is not working. I have heard colleagues opposite mention phrases that I do not like, such as "bed blockers"; these are people in hospital who do not want to be there. They could either be stepped down to return home or they should be able to access the fair deal scheme. This problem must be addressed.

There was a focus from the Government over a week or two in trying to reduce the number of people waiting on trolleys in hospitals - as was correct - but the issue has moved on. We need the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to tell us what is happening with the fair deal scheme and how we will properly fund home help. The issue of looking after people at home or in nursing homes must be examined very carefully, as these figures are unacceptable. There are nearly 1,400 families waiting over 11 weeks to get applications for their relatives to access nursing home care. Waiting times and the number of people waiting have trebled. The figures do not lie and something is wrong, so the matter must be addressed. I ask for a specific debate on this and perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, can tell us what she proposes to do in this instance. The Government needs a plan to address the matter as it is worsening month on month.