Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in welcoming each of the contributors. I am of similar mind to the views expressed by Mr. Chris Macey of the Irish Heart Foundation and Mr. John McCormack of the Irish Cancer Society, whose respective contributions I welcome. In the limited time available to me, it will not be possible for me to direct questions to all five lead speakers.

I would like to highlight a couple of issues and to direct my first questions to Mr. John Dunne of the Carers Association and Mr. Sean Dillon of Older and Bolder. I received a reply yesterday to parliamentary questions on home help hours and home care packages. The figures with which I was provided in this regard are very worrying. The figure in respect of the number of people in receipt of home help hours and home care packages indicates a very worrying trend. A large number of those in receipt of these reports are receiving reduced supports, namely, shorter and-or fewer attendances by their home help hour providers. This indicates that from 31 December 2010 to the end of July 2012, there were 3,701 fewer people in receipt of home help hours. During the corresponding period, there was an increase of 1,159 in the number of home care packages. However, the net reduction in terms of recipients of home supports was in excess of 2,500. This does not reflect the real impact of cuts. We are deeply alarmed that in some instances home help time has been reduced to 15 minutes. It is important these facts and figures are spelled out. Everyone knows what is happening.

I am happy to report to Older and Bolder and the Carers Association that this committee unanimously adopted a proposal from me and wrote to the Minister asking that the proposed cuts not proceed. However, we now know that they have been applied since the last bank holiday weekend. This is an opportunity for all of us, Government and Opposition, to support the case that not only should there not be further cuts in terms of budget 2013 but that there should be a reversal of the cuts implemented, which are impacting furiously.

My final question is to Mr. John Dolan of the Disability Federation of Ireland. Mr. Dolan referred in his submission to an implementation plan in relation to the national disability strategy. There is no such plan yet in place, which is outrageous. This committee has a role to play in this area and should write to the Minister about this issue following today's meeting.