Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy should deal with the reality. The target in the 2012 HSE service plan was to deliver 10.7 million home help hours to 50,000 people with a budget of €200 million. The reduction will see 10.3 million hours delivered to them. There will be a reduction of €8 million in the budget for the service between now and the end of the year because the money is not there. I have made it clear that decisions on the home help service and on home help hours will continue to be based on a review of each individual's needs and they are all different. No current recipient of the service who has an assessed medical need will be left without a service. The overall provision of home help services is reviewed regularly at national and local level in the context of the needs of each client and of the resources available.

As I said in answer to questions last week, two reviews have happened this year. The focus now will be on those who are most dependent and require personal care and hygiene services such as washing, incontinence management and so on, which are sensitive and personal.

We will maintain those by, if necessary, reducing lesser dependency duties like shopping or cleaning. The money is not there and we must adjust accordingly. The overall position is that anyone with an assessed need for a home help service will not be left without one. The HSE is under instruction from the Department and the Minister to implement this in as sensitive and caring a fashion as possible.

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