Leo Varadkar has dismissed concerns that the country’s elderly could be left in the lurch as more and more nursing homes convert to refugee accommodation centres.
The Taoiseach acknowledged that nursing homes are closing for this purpose, but he said that bed numbers in nursing homes could be kept steady even if nursing home owners decide to shift their business model towards providing refugee shelter.
Mr Varadkar was speaking after junior health minister with special responsibility for the elderly, Mary Butler, confirmed that she had received a report on the issue, and that the Government has given the green light to the business transfers, lifting a restriction that was in place.
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However, she added that crucial cooling off and notice periods of up to two years must be observed so that continuing care for nursing home residents can be organised.
Mr Varadkar was asked about the issue at his visit to the Bloom spectacular in the Phoenix Park on Friday morning.
He said: “We do have nursing homes that are closing and there are lots of reasons for that.
“We also have more nursing homes that are opening as well and we need to make sure that we have a net increase in the number of nursing home beds, but we also need to focus on home care as well, and making sure that fewer people have to go to a nursing home in the first place, or at least, if they do, spend less time there than they otherwise would.
“So I think you've to take all those things into the round.
“But what's clear, you know, in terms of providing accommodation for refugees from Ukraine, from people seeking international protection, we're doing everything we can in that regard.”
However, Mr Varadkar also warned that the Government will not hesitate to deport refugees that arrive here and try to stay illegally.
He added: “I always say when it comes to the issue of asylum and migration is that we need to be fair, we also need to be firm, we need to be fair to people who are coming here seeking refuge, fleeing war, fleeing persecution, we need to make sure that their applications are assessed quickly and granted quickly.
“And we're speeding that up all the time.
“But we also need to be firm with people, people who are coming here as economic migrants, but are claiming international protection falsely, that we will also make a decision on your application quickly.
“A deportation order will be served on you.”
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