Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like colleagues across the House, I have no difficulty in accepting the proposition before us today that the two-year extension be granted, provided that in those two years we see very serious action and investment in the sector. We all know that there are congregated settings and other facilities across the country that require serious investment in terms of upgrading. I am aware, as others in the House will be, that a similar approach has been taken to the necessity to upgrade and ensure compliance for residential nursing homes in recent times. In order to extend and smooth the process, arguably, for compliance for residential nursing homes, the regime has been modified in terms of accommodation standards, which probably reflects a reality in that sector regarding the availability of funding.

I repeat what Senator Reilly said earlier. We always need to reflect on care and the culture of an organisation when we are talking about standards and the provision of services in institutional or residential settings, whether they be for people of varying abilities or for older people. In supporting this initiative to extend the timeframe, I would be hopeful that we will not see a relaxation of the regime and standards to be applied to residential settings for people of varying abilities, people with disabilities, because I could not support that. We need to stay true to the standards that are required.

I ask the Minister of State to confirm the level of capital investment that will be available in the coming two to five years to bring residential settings up to the required standard. I agree with Senator Dolan, who spoke very eloquently about the challenges the sector faces. He knows more than anybody else in this Chamber about those challenges.

It took a long time to get here. We have travelled a journey and it is very positive that we are moving in this direction. My party colleague, the former Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, must take some credit for taking this initiative and ensuring in 2013 that we were taking a journey towards this state where the requirement for these standards would become part of the system and our response to the sector. It is about ensuring that everyone in our society has a high standard of living, and a high standard of support and care. We are all united in wanting to see the congregated settings broken up and people having the opportunity, as they should as equal citizens, to live independently with the support of the State and others.

When will Ireland ratify the UN convention, which Senator Dolan mentioned? I do not believe I was in the House when the Minister of State responded to that question a couple of weeks ago. Ireland is the only European Union state not to have ratified the convention at this stage. I look forward to us doing so and I would appreciate getting a timeframe from the Minister of State on that.