Let’s be fair to old folk

I REFER to recent reports regarding the €110 million set aside to fund the Government’s nursing home fair deal scheme, which has been delayed due to legal difficulties.

The suggestion is that the nursing home fair deal funds not utilised may be diverted to shore up the HSE’s deficit in the current year. Last year the HSE’s financial difficulties resulted in a recruitment freeze and consequently reduced the level of homecare packages issued to enable older people live at home rather than in a nursing home.

Rather than fund the HSE’s inefficiencies, the €110m should be diverted to the older persons’ homecare package scheme and at least the monies would be used to benefit those for whom it was originally intended.