Fair deal scheme review
Deputy O’Dea seeks a date for the fair deal review and highlights lengthy delays and costs in Limerick. The Taoiseach cites reduced waiting times and agrees that a further health debate can be arranged.
The Taoiseach did not reply to Deputy Martin's suggestion to use the free time this evening to debate health. He specifically asked the Taoiseach if he was prepared to do that. Will the Taoiseach confirm if he is willing to do so? When is the Government review of the fair deal scheme going to be concluded? Given that he represents a constituency, as I do, the Taoiseach will be aware that this is going on longer than "The Forsyte Saga". In the meantime, there are 12 to 14 week delays at a cost of more than €1,000 per week for hard-pressed people. When will the review come to a conclusion and what is going to result from it?
Comment on this
I cannot give Deputy O'Dea a precise date for the publication of the review. The Government made extra funding available so that the waiting period for families where a person has to be approved for the fair deal scheme has been reduced substantially from 18 weeks down to four to five weeks-----
Comment on this
-----which is very acceptable in the vast majority of cases given the administration required.