The conundrum of caring for an ageing population

The exchequer will spend almost €1 billion on nursing home care for the elderly this year.

Yet, it is not enough to meet the demand. The Fair Deal nursing home scheme – the scheme used by 22,000 people in nursing homes throughout the country – ran into financial difficulty soon after this government was elected. It ground to a halt.

The coalition promised to act. It announced a review of the on-going sustainability ...