Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for discussion. Home help services have been of enormous benefit to the many people throughout the State who avail of them. These worthwhile schemes allow elderly people to remain in their homes, surrounded by their family, friends and community, thus enjoying a better quality of life.

Some months ago, it came to my attention that the Health Service Executive was experiencing difficulties in providing home help services to all in need of them. In some areas, no funding is available for new applicants, regardless of their level of need. In other areas, staff can only provide home help to a new applicant when an existing patient no longer needs them. In other words, staff are obliged to wait until one person dies before "recycling" home help hours. In recent weeks, it has become clear that instances of cutting people's hours and placing applicants on long waiting lists have become increasingly prevalent throughout the State. The many cases in my own constituency are undoubtedly replicated elsewhere.

For example, I was recently made aware of a shocking situation where an 83 year old man who is suffering from cancer, diabetes, and other complications was, upon his release from hospital, granted a mere one hour per day of assistance in the form of home help. His family were pleased to receive even this much but they are under enormous pressure and in a very stressful situation. I have come across cases where desperately needed hours of home help were drastically cut and where seriously ill people were put on waiting lists for home help. Families are coming under severe pressure as a result of this shortfall in home help services.

There has been a catalogue of decisions in recent months where the needs of older and more vulnerable people in our society were trampled by the Government. The Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children should not erode by stealth the essential provision of home help for people who are seriously ill. Will the Minister clarify the current situation? I reiterate how invaluable these services are to people who wish to remain in their homes. Given the large increases in unemployment, many people are now available to work with older people. An emergency plan should be drawn up to ensure older people receive the assistance they need to enjoy the best possible quality of life. Unemployed people should be allowed to register for some type of short-term scheme whereby they would assist elderly people in their homes. This would relieve pressure on the nursing home subvention scheme and the health service in general while also providing employment in local communities. If we do not look after older people, we cannot be proud of our society. I urge the Government to introduce the type of emergency plan to which I referred.

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