John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. The definition being used in 2016 was that it was to enable the person to live an independent life. How in the name of God can the Minister of State deliver on that definition, even if he calls it in-home support, if the person is getting an average of less than two hours per day? It is impossible. It is not personal assistance and it is a lie to present it as such. Some 2,000 of the 2,500 are getting less than an average of 20 hours per week. For God's sake, call a spade and spade, go back to the drawing board and develop a personal assistance. How many people are on the waiting list?

My final question relates to regulatory compliance. I will be brief. There have been some increases in funding, but they are modest in terms of what needs to happen. The Minister admits this. The Charities Act, HIQA and a range of other things, none of them to be decried, were put in place during the recession, which is interesting. However, there has been no extra funding. Along with taking cuts, organisations were told to ensure that services were not reduced. They were told that they must hold the line. The Department made a cut of 5% in 2010 and told the organisations to get on with it and maintain the same level of services. That is a fact. Increased compliance has been shoved in there as well, which is another bubble. There is no acknowledgement of that in terms of the reasonable costs that are involved in it.

I accept that the Minister and others will not have time to respond fully on my questions, but I would like to have further engagement on this.