Fair Deal scheme review
Gerry Adams seeks publication and funding arrangements for the Fair Deal review, while also asking about childcare and gender-recognition legislation; the Taoiseach gives expected legislative timelines.
I wish to refer to the fair deal system, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Gender Recognition Bill 2014. There is a commitment to a review of the fair deal system and the provision of additional funding each year for the care of older people. According to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, there is an annual €30 million funding gap. When will the review which was promised four years ago be published and how will this cost be borne? Will it be borne by families or the State?
I commend the child care professionals who were protesting outside Leinster House today. There is a crisis of low pay and insecurity among workers across the sector. Many receive little more than the minimum wage. When will the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2014 be published?
On Saturday I was at a rally outside Leinster House which had been organised by LGBT Noise and Transgender Equality Network Ireland, TENI, and citizens deeply concerned at the Government’s proposals included in the Gender Recognition Bill 2014, which Bill is entirely out of line with international good practice. It is at odds with our human rights commitments. It is disrespectful and breaches the human rights of transgender people. When will Second Stage of the Bill be taken in the House? Does the Taoiseach envisage the Bill completing all Stages and becoming law before the general election? Does he accept that the clause that requires married transgender people to divorce as a precondition of recognition is not only insulting but is also at odds with the marriage equality referendum and proposed change to the Constitution?
Comment on this
It is a complex Bill. It is before the Seanad and the Government approved several technical amendments to it a fortnight ago. It will be brought here from the Seanad and I expect it to be implemented in law well before the next general election.
The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2014 is due to be published this session. The review of the fair deal scheme was promised to be provided within a couple of months. Its implementation may require legislation in terms of a review of the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009 because the scheme is statutorily based.