Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with what has occurred in the past few minutes.

In my Commencement matter I call on the Minister for Health to establish a forum on long-term residential care. I recall that I made such a proposal about two years ago owing to increasing pressure on the State to provide long-term residential and respite care. One of the proposals made called for the setting up of a biannual meeting of all of the key players. They included the Department of Health, the HSE, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Irish Medical Organisation and Nursing Homes Ireland. Such a meeting would allow them to meet and deal with challenges arising in the area. Over 23,500 people live in private residential care settings under the fair deal scheme.We have another 6,000 to 7,000 in community care services. There is going to be a huge change in the demographics, with the number reaching 85 years of age increasing all of the time. The number reaching 65 years of age is also increasing. Therefore, there will be huge challenges. Likewise, there will be huge challenges in hospitals because of the growth in population. The figure used is that 51% of all hospital beds are occupied by people over 65 years of age. If there is an increase in that demographic, there will be an increase in the demand for beds in hospitals. Therefore, there will have to be a faster response from hospitals in trying to provide step-down care facilities. It is in that context that I propose a forum be set up to deal with the issue of long-term care that would meet either once every three months or once every six months to tease out issues arising and that there be a fast response from both the HSE and the Department in order that they would act before issues arose that would have to be acted on urgently. It is in that context that I raise the issue.