Kathleen Lynch levelled the accusation at the Independent Deputy in the Dail during a debate which also heard about the comprehensive work being carried out by the South Tipp project “Five Steps to Living Well with Dementia”
Deputy McGrath and Leas Ceann Comhairle Bernard Durkan sparred on the floor of the Dail during the debate.
The South Tipp TD also hit out during a private members motion on Social Services and Support for elderly people put forward by Independent Tom Fleming.
He says the elderly have been left demoralised by cuts to home support teams and phone allowance while highlighting the cuts to GP practises and saying District Nurses were overran with work.
The South Tipp TD then went to point out the good work of a pilot scheme running in South Tipperary – The Five Steps to Living Well with Dementia and appealed to the Minister to meet with some of those involved including Dr Catriona Crowe and Eamon O'Shea who are due to address the Oireachtas Health Committee.
Fellow Independent Deputy Seamus Healy also spoke on the motion pointing out that the pilot scheme – which had been running for the last three years – was coming to an end in October and would need government investment to continue.
The Minister with responsibility for Older People Labour's Kathleen Lynch insisted the government had done a great deal in this area including increasing funding for the nursing home budget scheme by €53 million cutting waiting lists down to four weeks.
She added that she supported the motion for the most part – bar the negative comments for certain deputes and singled out Deputy McGrath for particular criticism.
