Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)

I raise the issue of boarding-out services. These are services that support older people to live in their own community, people who do not require nursing home care but cannot live on their own or do not want to live on their own. They live in their community and are supported where they need to be they but live practically independent lives. At one time there were eight houses providing this service in County Cavan. The last one is due to close at the end of July. The reason that all the providers, including this one, is leaving the scheme is the failure of successive governments to actually update and review the regulations and increase the supports to providers.

The cost of supporting an older person in one of these settings is approximately one fifth of what it would cost if they were in nursing home care. The remaining provider has six people living with her at the moment, all of whom are upset because it is like being evicted from their home. They are going to have to find a new place to live. That will be done through the HSE but is most likely going to be nursing home care. They do not have families they can live with and they cannot, as I said, live alone.

I have been bringing this issue up since 2020. I brought it up with then Minister, Deputy Donnelly, with Minister of State, Deputy Butler and now with Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. They have all promised me that this scheme will be reviewed and updated and that it will be expanded because it is a very good scheme, but nothing has happened. I have promises on paper from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and she has done nothing on it. Now, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, keeps telling me when I meet him that he is going to do that. Unfortunately, all the providers are leaving one by one because of the failure of the Government to act. This is one last plea. Will the Minister please look at it and review it very quickly? We are going to lose our last provider. It really is a scheme worth looking at and expanding throughout the country. It keeps people in their communities and it is very much supported by the charity ALONE.