Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, have concerns about the report that the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Helen McEntee, is to publish a report from the health review board on the care of elderly persons living at home. People are growing older and there are stress and worry for families who do not know how much care will cost them. There are families who are losing their homes because they are paying so much for care. We need to address that issue. The other concern is that this is to be the first statutory scheme of home care to be introduced in Ireland. There are 5,200 elderly persons on waiting lists for either the home care package, home help or another support. That is unacceptable. The Minister of State must come to the House to address these issues which are of concern. They are being raised with us in our clinics by families for whom they are a worry. Elderly people can no longer afford to pay such an amount and it will be a large sum. While the report has not yet being brought before the House, the main thing is for the Minister of State to ensure people will be able to afford to pay for care. There is no point in putting stress on families and the elderly.