Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she will publish proposals on the financing of long-term care of the elderly to fulfil action 42 of the national health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20913/05]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason actions 36 and 42 of the national health strategy have not been fulfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20915/05]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she will deliver legislation for clear statutory provisions on entitlement to health services to fulfil action 36 of the national health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20914/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 139 and 154 together.

In line with action 36 of the health strategy, my Department has commenced work on a new legislative framework for eligibility for health and personal social services. The aim is to produce a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency. This is a very complex task but my Department is working to prepare proposals without delay.

With regard to action 42, following the publication of the Mercer report on the future financing of long-term care in Ireland, a working group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs has been established.

The objective of this group is to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, taking account of the Mercer report, the views of the consultation that was undertaken on that report and the review of the nursing home subvention scheme by Professor Eamon O'Shea. It is hoped that this group will report to both the Tánaiste and Minister for Social and Family Affairs in the near future.