The programme for Government contained specific promises on the care of the elderly. It was stated that investment in the supply of more and better care for older people in the community and in residential settings would be a priority for this Government and also that the Government would provide additional funding each year for the care of older people with this funding to provide more residential places, more home care packages and the delivery of more home help and other professional community care services. The opposite has been the case with regard to the implementation of both the legislative commitments in the programme for Government and the policy commitments. There is currently a waiting list of 1,500 for the Fair Deal scheme. So far as I can see, all of the promises and commitments in the programme for Government have been reversed and have not been implemented. I was stunned at the Tánaiste's response to Deputy Seamus Healy when he stated there was no targeting of medical cards because every constituency office is inundated-----

Please put your question, Deputy Martin.

-----with people bringing in letters they have received. For example, 69 year olds and people who have cards-----

This is not in order on the Order of Business.

The elderly are feeling it. When people watching on television hear the Tánaiste saying that medical cards are not being targeted, they wonder are people in this House in the real world because we are all getting the representations. When will the commitments in the programme for Government relating to the elderly be implemented? When can we expect the implementation of these additional hours for home helps and the extra funding for community and residential settings which were promised and committed to?

This is an area about which Deputy Martin is knowledgeable because this was the area related to the brief which he did not read.

The Tánaiste needs to read a few briefs.

The HSE has committed in the national service plan to maintain the home help and home care package. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has brought forward a range of initiatives in this area. I do not think there is any specific area of legislation promised. The programme for Government is being implemented and will be implemented and completed in the lifetime of the Government.