Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I said I am not making a political scoring point. There is a second side to society and, notwithstanding the economic recovery, we need to reflect on the many problems such as homelessness, housing and deprivation which still need to be addressed.

I rose to speak about the issue of future care of our elderly. Fortunately, the percentage of people who are growing old will increase in the future. The report on the future of the fair deal nursing homes support scheme is being published today for consideration. I do not know the recommendations it will contain but we are advised that they will not be acted upon in advance of the election, which is fair enough. However, I would like to have a debate in the autumn on care of the elderly and that we would try to reach beyond the nursing home solution. The very fine organisation ALONE published a report recently which highlighted the fact that up to 30% of people resident in nursing homes should not be in a nursing home. There are many ways of looking after our elderly. It should not be a question of the nursing home solution alone, if Members will excuse the pun. I would like all the options including community care, home care, respite care, carer's allowance etc. fully debated. We speak about the problem but do not investigate it fully. From the point of view of the taxpayer but, more important, from the point of view of the elderly in our community, the community should be the start of our solution for them. I would like the House to debate that in detail, alongside today's report, at the earliest possible date.