Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this issue to the House. It is an important one and I welcome the few minutes I have to speak on it. I was reared in a family where respect for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles was very important and where everyone played a part. I know and understand only too well the needs of older people in my own family and in the community, and I recognise the value that has been given through the years by those in the health service and home carers. In early 2009, my family received the devastating news that my mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. With a family of eight children, my mother had the best of care at home, with all of us giving a hand, especially my two brothers, who looked after her 24-7. The only words to describe their attention to her are unconditional love. They practically did everything for her. There were, however, many difficult times, and I remember on many occasions arguing with the Minister for Health and Children that we could not get incontinence pads or proper sheets for my mother's bed. The care she received at home from her family and friends, however, was second to none. At the end of her days, when she finally passed away, it made her passing more bearable for all of us.

For many older people it was not in their DNA to ask anything of the State but, sadly, many of them now need and deserve a little help to live with dignity in their last few months or years. The Minister of State spoke about numbers, the 9,300 home helps in Ireland, the 11 million hours of home help care, the 50,000 people who receive that care, and the millions being spent on home care packages from a total of €320 million. It sounds an enormous amount and we all know it would be even greater if we had it, but that is not possible at present.

Some home help services are unregulated and that cannot continue. It is important to have proper standards in place. I agree with the points made by Older and Bolder on the need to reform home help services and adequately monitor standards of care. Regulation of services is vital and there is a need for inspections of home help provision, as well as registration of those engaged in home help. The system must be more patient focused and patient friendly.

The Government is aware of the needs of older people. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on her work with older people. The HSE is carrying out a review, as we all know, and will continue to do so, and that is an important step. I also welcome the HSE approach to access and to identify those who are most dependent and require personal care services. These are the people we must ensure have access to the vital services.

What is home help? It is about those older people and people with disabilities who cannot look after themselves and who need someone to help them with their daily washing, dressing, eating and, in some cases, medical needs. It is not simply about companionship, although I recognise its importance. To me home help is about much more than a cup of tea and a slice of toast. The focus of home help services is and must be about people's health care needs at home. We cannot always depend on the State to take on the responsibilities of families, and families must be there to support older people in their homes. There are many volunteer organisations that do wonderful work and many neighbours in communities who continue to support elderly people. We must support them and provide them with the companionship that is needed.

I am, of course, concerned about the planned reduction in the funding of home help services. The Department of Health, however, has stated clearly that no one will be left without a service and, where individuals are identified as in need of direct patient care, they will be looked after directly by the HSE. I welcome that. As a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, I support the call we made two weeks for the Minister for Health to review the proposed cuts to the home help service. We all agreed the letter calling on him to look at the service and not just at its cost.

When I grew up, "The Wizard of Oz" and many other Disney programmes were on television. This evening I heard some people in the Opposition saying that Government party Members do not have a heart. I have a heart and want to make it clear to everyone. I do not think any Deputy or Minister in this Chamber does not have a heart. We were not elected because we do not care for people. We were elected because we care for them. As far as I am concerned, I am not an alien who just flew down from space this evening. I am a human being who walks the streets at weekends and deals with my constituency, listening to the trials and tribulations of everyone. I want a health service in the future of which we can all be proud. I want us to be able to care for those who want to remain at home. All aspects of the health service must be reviewed now.

There is not a person knocking on doors for the children's referendum who will not approach any of the issues being raised in the Chamber. They are willing to speak up. It is time for change and review. That does not mean everything has to be slashed and cut but certainly some of the services need to be reformed and the motion is about examining those reforms.

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