As Senators know, this is National Carers Week. A very important contribution to the care provided is the assistance provided by the private nursing sector. Nursing Homes Ireland made a presentation yesterday. Unproductive meetings represent one of the issues the organisation has raised with me, one I am sure it has raised with other Oireachtas Members. When its members meet the Department of Health to discuss an issue, they are advised that it is one for the HSE, but when they meet the HSE, they are advised that it is one for the Department. Nursing Homes Ireland has suggested - I have raised this matter previously - that a forum be set up to ensure clear communication. When the organisation meets the Department, it also wants to meet the HSE, the IMO and the INMO in order to be able to deal with all issues. It also wants to see a formal structure being put in place to deal with care of the elderly, not just in nursing homes but also in the context of associated issues such as delayed discharges from hospital. A forum would ensure all issues could be dealt with. It might only meet every four or six months, but it would ensure the attendance of all of those involved in the care of the elderly. Even though I have already brought the matter to the attention of the Minister for Health, I ask the Leader to do the same because I want the issue to form part of the debate on health care and long-term planning.

The provision of care for the elderly will be challenging in the next 15 years because the number of people over the age of 65 years will increase from 600,000 to over 1 million by 2031. Therefore, we need to ensure we provide services sufficient to meet these challenges. Let me give another important figure. some 51% of all hospital beds are occupied by people over the age of 65 years, which poses a challenge, particularly given the fact that we have a growing elderly population. We must provide more services in order to tackle the discharge process in hospitals. We need to debate this important issue. I, therefore, ask that the Minister for Health, his Department and the HSE work together and take this challenge on board rather than continue the constant buck-passing that has continued for years. We need to create an efficient and effective service, but we can only do so in working together. I, therefore, ask the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister as I want it to form part of our debate with him.