Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish Deputy Sexton was present because I would like to make a point to her about the home help service and the reason I get so angry listening to the rubbish coming from the other side of the House. I tabled a question to the Minister of State about a case in my constituency. I want to be careful not to identify the person who was getting the home help service for one hour per day but the health board then cut it to three hours per week. That person had a serious accident over Christmas. I will not identify the accident because everyone in the town from which I come knows what happened. Following the accident, the person had major surgery. The person fell into a fire and then fell in hospital breaking his hip. The home help service was taken away from a person who needed it. If the Minister of State is so concerned about the elderly, why is the Western Health Board and every other health board attacking the home service? Every report which has been produced has shown that elderly people want to stay in their own homes.

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