Chaill an Rialtas an seans seo a dhéanamh don chéad uair i 1973 agus caillfidh an Rialtas seo an seans go deo.

Does the Taoiseach agree with the Tánaiste in wanting to commence a debate on care for the elderly? The Tánaiste said the elderly have no right to expect the State to pay for their care.

I did not say that.

The Deputy does not know what the Tánaiste said.

Deputy Rabbitte, without interruption, please.

I did not say that.

I have a copy of the Tánaiste's original statement.

I suppose Deputy Rabbitte is quoting from Fintan O'Toole.

Deputy Rabbitte, without interruption, please.

I have a copy of the Tánaiste's original statement before——

The Deputy should read it correctly.

——she went on television last night to try to back-track.

That is not true.

The Tánaiste will have to accept responsibility for the fact that a few years ago she targeted single mothers and is now targeting those she wants to care for their grandchildren. It is strange the Tánaiste never targets anybody with wealth. It is always the poor and the vulnerable who are targeted by the Tánaiste, who said the elderly have no right to expect the State to pick up the tab.

I did not say that.

That is what the Tánaiste is quoted as saying. Why did she not correct it?

I know a great deal more than Deputy Rabbitte about the matter.

I do not think the Tánaiste does know more and that is part of the problem.

A Cheann Comhairle——

Order, Deputy Rabbitte, without interruption, please.

The Tánaiste has too many civil servants doing her constituency work. The problem is that the Tánaiste does not know.

A Cheann Comhairle, I would expect Deputy Rabbitte——

Is this customary, Sir?

Yes, I am entitled to correct the record. I did not say what Deputy Rabbitte has suggested.

I ask the Tánaiste to allow Deputy Rabbitte.

I will, provided what he says is accurate.

I would also suggest to Deputy Rabbitte that if a Member states his or her position on a particular issue, it should be accepted by other Members.

Even if it contradicts what was said.

That makes a farce of the Dáil.

The Tánaiste had a full week to correct her remarks before this matter was raised with me from the floor by the National Widows Conference of Ireland who quoted her reported comments at the time. During that entire week she never corrected it. She went on last night to say that she is opposed to people being forced to sell their homes before they are cared for in residential care. People all over this city and country are selling their homes.

Hear, hear.

The Tánaiste has too many civil servants doing her constituency work if she does not know that is the case.

I know a lot more than Deputy Rabbitte about it.

Please allow Deputy Rabbitte to continue without interruption.

How does the Tánaiste propose the elderly in our society be cared for in the community when one of the first things which this Government did was to cut back on home help?

I do not know how affected the Taoiseach is with the Tánaiste this morning after yesterday, but I would like him to state if this is the Government's position. Is the Government about to introduce family assessment, as mooted last year? Will any recognition be given to the fact that two people in many of our homes have to work to pay the mortgage and at the same time take care of their children? The Tánaiste now wants these people to take responsibility for looking after their elderly relatives as well.

Deputy Rabbitte should, when making his case, at least try to quote accurately the points made by the Tánaiste. She did not say anything near what Deputy Rabbitte has stated either inside or outside this House. For the record, everybody in the Government wants to continue on the road we have been going since 1997 in increasing the capital programme for services for elderly people and in continuing to assist those who work with them. We have substantially improved the carer's allowance in many ways and we make further improvements on it every year. We have increased spending on home help from €70 million to €110 million. We introduced the minimum wage for those engaged in home help services. Spending on health care services for the elderly is up almost €300 million since 1997 and staff numbers have increased by 800. We have made substantial efforts to increase services for the elderly. Nursing home subventions have been improved, as have housing grants for the elderly.

The Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Health and Children have been involved in a consultation process which is considering finances in terms of long-term care. We will bring forward proposals in that regard. In fairness, Deputy Rabbitte is aware of what has been done right across a range of services from the old age pensions to facilities and services and he is not accurately reflecting the Tánaiste views in this area.

Deputy Rabbitte is also aware that there are few people in the House who know more about care of the elderly than the Tánaiste, given her own situation.

Hear, hear.

I do not have time to quote the Tánaiste's entire interview but for the record she stated: "I know this seems controversial but is it fair that people require the State to pick up the bill?"

When they abandon their relatives.

The Tánaiste stated that society was becoming increasingly greedy. The Progressive Democrats criticising society for becoming greedy is like alcoholics criticising pubs. Speaking to The Irish Times following the seminar the Tánaiste called for a carrot and stick approach which would both encourage and reward people for looking after their loved ones when they required care. There is no doubt but that the Tánaiste has been caught out and is now trying to reverse engines.

I want the Taoiseach to set out Government policy in this area. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, last year introduced a specific tax break for one constituent in Naas. Why, in terms of private nursing homes and the tax breaks he introduced, are there unoccupied beds in these facilities throughout the country? Why is the price not dropping? Why is the Taoiseach prepared to go along with a situation where beds in acute hospitals are being occupied because there is no step-down care provision? That is a serious question which the Tánaiste could answer if she wishes to have a debate on this issue. I ask the Taoiseach to address that matter.

As Deputy Rabbitte knows — at least I am sure he knows — one of the most attractive tax breaks that remains in the tax code relates to provision of nursing home places for the elderly.

What about home-stay?

That is the reason——

A person who received Government funding for a private day hospital now has €9 million in his back pocket.

That is the reason nursing home places throughout the country have massively increased. Facilities and the standard of nursing home places have dramatically improved as a result of the generous tax breaks given.

How is it reflected in the price?

Deputy Rabbitte asked me to outline Government policy in this regard. The policy which both the Tánaiste and I have put in place over the past number of years is to increase substantially the old age pension, give medical cards to people aged over 70, substantially improve the carer's allowance and housing availability for the elderly through local authorities and to help as generously as possible those who look after the elderly, particularly home helps, who now receive the minimum wage as opposed to the pittance they used to get. We will continue to do it and to address this issue both in acute hospitals——

Will the Taoiseach deal with the issue? What about the 140 beds that remain unoccupied?

This is the real issue.

Deputy Ryan is not the leader of his party and he should not undermine his leader's right to hear the response to his question. I ask him to resume his seat. This is Leaders' Questions.

There are 140 unoccupied beds which could be used——

The Deputy should listen to the Taoiseach.

I will ask the Deputy to leave the House if he does not desist.

Let us deal with the issue.

It shows that members of the Labour Party do not want people to hear what is being done in regard to pensions, subvention——

Why does the Taoiseach not fill the vacant beds?

These schemes for the elderly are having a practical effect and the Government will continue to implement them. When other parties had the opportunity, they did nothing for the elderly and gave them a pittance.

I will bring the Taoiseach to the houses of those who are trying to look after the elderly.