Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Minister of State in her comments on what is being debated here, which is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill. I do not think we should confuse this or the work done on progressing the Bill. As the Minister of State alluded to, a significant amount of work is being done in the Department on the Age Friendly Ireland programme. Measures are being taken separately to support people in their own homes. I thank the Minister of State for being in Navan this week to launch the programme. It will help 4,500 people to "right size" their homes. The Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme is a unique collaboration between Sláintecare and local government. Crucially, it puts local government at the heart of what is being done. It is about people living longer and healthier lives in their own homes. Over the next two years, it will reach up to 4,500 homes in nine local authority areas. This is an exceptional piece of work. The Bill before us is dealing with a particular issue and we should remain focused on it. Both measures complement each other and I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in this regard.