The Ombudsman's report was published yesterday but I did not have an opportunity to read it due to the pressing events of the past two days. There was a great deal of concern last summer following the publication of stories in the media which revealed that health boards were taking money from elderly people and their families for subventions. It now appears that these moneys will have to be returned by the health boards. I hope the Minister and Minister of State will tackle the health boards and ensure that whatever funding should be returned to these families will be returned. I also hope the Minister and his Department will rap the knuckles of the health boards.
The Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, is also responsible for the special housing aid for the elderly scheme which is operated by the health boards. In my constituency, the health board is frightening old people by demanding money from them for this scheme. I have written to the Ombudsman and asked him to investigate this scheme as well. It is wrong that people of 65 years and more should have to make contributions to the health board. Sometimes when they are asked for the contribution they do not actually know what works will be carried out or how much money in total they will have to pay. This practice does not occur in every health board. I put down parliamentary questions on this subject today and, according to the replies, some health boards have abolished it. I call on the Minister to ensure that the health boards who continue it are stopped.
A constituent called to my clinic to discuss the subvention issue. He was most disturbed about it. He was not well off and his brothers and sisters in America were obliged to make a contribution towards the subventions for his mother when she was in the nursing home. At that time, the health board inquired about every member of the family, no matter how many there were or where in the world they lived. Each member was obliged to send a statement of their income. That was outrageous. Some family members took on the responsibility of looking after their elderly relatives but other members had their own families to support and mortgages to pay.
I wish to ensure that moneys are returned to the people who were obliged to pay subventions at the request of the health boards. I also ask the Minister, with regard to the housing aid for the elderly scheme, to stop the practice of health boards taking money from the elderly. I have raised this issue on many occasions.
I did not get an opportunity to read the Ombudsman's report. There is terrible abuse of the elderly in this country. Up to 12,000 elderly people suffer abuse at the hands of their carers and other people, according to a report drawn up by the national council on ageing and older people. Every day there are court cases which show how elderly people are treated. I have previously called on the Minister to establish a help line for the elderly. Since I raised this matter and the media gave it coverage, I have received phone calls from people throughout the country describing their problems and the abuse they suffer. Abuse can take many forms.
I will return to this topic on another occasion. I now have to return to other pressing business. I hope the Minister of State will give the health boards a slap. I do not often agree with comments made by the Minister and the Taoiseach but on this occasion I do. The Civil Service, the health boards and councils have gone too far. They seem to think that because they work for the State their word is law. Thank God for the Ombudsman. I hope when legislation relating to the Ombudsman comes before the House again he will be given further powers and more resources. He will then be able to take on the health boards and the councils. The only time one can put manners on health boards or councils is when one threatens to refer a case to the Ombudsman. However, his powers are restricted. I hope he will be given more power and resources.
I compliment the Ombudsman on this report. The Minister must take on the health boards and the officials.