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

I am dealing with the point that I have just made. At the press conference last week, the Minister of State mentioned that there was a commitment to restore home help services. What does this mean? It was also included in her press release. In fact, she "welcomed" - that was the phraseology used - the commitment to restore. What does this mean in real terms going into 2013? Does it only mean that there will be no further home help cuts in 2013 or, in line with the normal person's understanding of the English language, as is the case for most of us, does it mean that what has been taken away will be restored?

The single largest element of this Supplementary Estimate comprises the medical card services and community drug schemes. Some €240 million of the additional €360 million is required. I have no hesitation in supporting this, as we have mass unemployment, tens of thousands of people are no longer able to afford private health insurance and people are being further pushed into poverty as a result of social welfare cuts and job losses. The medical cards are required. This is inevitable and predictable. However, what did the Minister mean when he stated at last week's press conference that there would be further restrictions on medical card eligibility next year? Will he elaborate on what he meant by that? Both commentaries - by the Minister of State and the Minister - require clarification, one in respect of further restrictions on medical card eligibility and the other in respect of restoring home help services.

In the Minister's address to the committee, he stated, "The impact of the retirements under the 'grace period' posed significant challenges given that some 4,700 people left the sector before the end of February".

The Minister has signalled 3,500 further cuts in staffing across the health services in the coming year. Surely this will have an equally serious impact and there will be no real savings as a result of dispensing with staff. The reality is that there may be no savings at all and the real result from a cut in staffing will be cuts in services which make it more difficult for people to access services and further delays in the initial point of contact with health services.