Under the commitment in the programme for Government regarding the care of the elderly, may I outline two cases to the Taoiseach? There has been a debate on this today. These two cases came across my desk in the past ten days. One concerns a 93 year old woman discharged to the care of a single middle-aged son with half an hour a day for four days a week. Another case involves a 93 year old woman being discharged to a pensioner son on his own with half an hour morning and evening four days a week.

Is home care the issue?

This was debated earlier. It is very urgent and needs to be addressed. If we are to show care, support and dignity to elderly people, something has to be done. I ask that some of the €500 million that has been allocated to health be diverted. Using his own fingers, the Taoiseach can tell that although the money has not been cut, the 4% year-on-year increase in demand for the service is cutting the money and we need to get more money into that scheme to try to provide some kind of dignity, as the cost of a nursing home is €1,100 a week.

That concludes the Order of Business. My apologies to the nine other Deputies who had indicated.