Older people deserve much support from Government – Kyne

Fine Gael Senators will bring a motion to the Oireachtas this week seeking for more support for older people; including more public nursing home beds, an increase in home care hours and day care centres across the country.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s Seanad leader, said the Private Members’ motion is aimed specifically to assist our elderly across a range of sectors.

Senator Kyne said the contribution older people have made to communities nationwide is immense and should be recognised and rewarded by the state.

“After working so hard to raise families and contribute to Irish society in numerous ways, it is only right that Government does its’ utmost to reward them and make life easier.

“Fine Gael ensured a number of commitments were included in the Programme for Government and we will now work with Minister for Older People Kieran O’Donnell to ensure they are realised as soon as possible.

“There is a commitment to continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget, with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government. We want to support older people to live at home and in their own communities.”

Senator Kyne said this can be done by a number of ways, including:

• Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible.
  • Increase home care hours.
  • Rollout the Care and Repair scheme nationally.
  • Increase the Housing Adaptation Grant.
  • Increase funding for the national Meals on Wheels network and develop a plan to ensure there are     supported providers in every town in the country.
  • Expand the Enhanced Community Care Programme.
  • Enhance our network of day centres.
  • Continue to support Community Healthcare Networks.
  • Increase support for carers – providing training, establishing clearer pathways to services, and improving access to respite.
  • Fully fund the Carer’s Guarantee.

  “There are plenty more initiatives which Government needs to examine, including providing more dementia supports and strengthening our nursing home sector with more beds and a career pathway for healthcare assistants.

“Fine Gael Senators will be working with Minister O’Donnell to achieve as much of this in the best possible fashion as soon as we can,” Senator Kyne said.

The Private Members’ motion is signed by all Fine Gael Senators; Garret Ahearn, Manus Boyle, Nikki Bradley, Paraic Brady, Cathal Byrne, Maria Byrne, Mark Duffy, Garret Kelleher, Mike Kennelly, Seán Kyne, Eileen Lynch, P.J. Murphy, Linda Nelson Murray, Evanne Ní Chuilinn, Noel O’Donovan, Joe O’Reilly and Gareth Scahill