I ask the Taoiseach to make himself aware of the Peter McKenna case. I think he will be as appalled as I am at what happened. I ask him to commit to the publication of the report by Mr. Martin Hynes. That report was in the possession of the people who are now proclaiming to be shocked. To state that we were duped on the supervision and invigilation of nursing homes is not exactly much of a defence.

Can I raise with the Taoiseach his assertion to Deputy Kenny that he has done so much for old people? He instanced carer's allowance and home help. The committee chaired by my colleague, Deputy Penrose, which reported on 27 November 2003 and which was subscribed to and signed up to by the Taoiseach's Deputies, recommended the abolition of the means testing for carer's allowance. This would provide the opportunity for more people to be cared for in their own homes, which is their preference. There has been no response from the Government on that issue.

The Taoiseach instanced the case of home help. Is he aware that the hours of home help are being cut in different parts of the country? Is he aware, for example, that when the people who perform the home help service had to be paid the minimum rate, what the health boards did was reduce the hours? They paid them the statutory minimum rate. Because they were women and because they were doing "menial work", which is a terrible description of the invaluable service they provide, they were paid buttons. Now they are paid the minimum rate and the Government cut the hours. For example, there is a 40% cut in north Kildare and a 20% cut in south Kildare. I have figures for different parts of the country. That is what is happening in Celtic tiger Ireland and at the same time, the Taoiseach is telling Deputy Kenny to look at what he did on home help and carer's allowance.

They will not even bring the elderly to hospital by ambulance. They are cutting back on that.

Unless there is some legal or privacy issue of which I am not aware, I will check the report by Mr. Martin Hynes and make myself aware of the case.

There have been substantial improvements in the carer's allowance in every year of this Government.

With a means test.

With a means test. There are means tests in our system right across the board. The disregard has been significantly improved. From today, the Government has brought in a respite grant of €1,000.

Get an application form for it.

It is Deputy Rabbitte's question. The Deputy is not even a member of the Labour Party.

I wanted to inform the Taoiseach.

In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, from today a new respite grant is payable, regardless of means, to 33,000 people who are carers, which will be very beneficial and of significant help.

As I stated, the Government is determined on this issue. On home help, the Deputy is correct in stating that people were paid a pittance. We now pay €115 million to people.

They cut the hours.

The Taoiseach without interruption.

The Government reduced the level of home help.

It was reduced by 18,000 hours.

We have allocated significant——

That is because the Government had to pay the minimum wage.

It is because we were not able to get home helps. We are paying €10 per hour.

You were able.

We were not able to get people. We are now paying €10 per hour.

The Government paid the minimum wage and cut back the hours.

We did not have to pay the minimum wage; the Government paid the minimum wage.

Deputy Allen should not interrupt. It is Deputy Rabbitte's question. He is well able to conclude.

There are two central issues in this regard. First, we must try to achieve conformity of our systems, better inspections and, under the existing legislation, make as much progress in this regard as possible, to avoid the kind of disgraceful situation at Leas Cross. Second, we must work to introduce a properly resourced and funded inspectorate, not only for nursing homes but also for child care institutions. We are preparing the necessary legislation, which will be in the House in the autumn.