Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Could the Taoiseach again clarify whether it is the intention of the Department of Health to privatise the home help service in the future? I urge the Taoiseach to support the home help service as we know it. The workers involved have tirelessly cared for the elderly. Many of them only get 30 minutes to deal with an elderly person on a daily basis, to carry out numerous tasks and take many phone calls during the day in order to look after those in their care. They are fighting a major battle against banked hours. They have no work payment for the time spent going from client to client, even though a recent European ruling stated they should be paid for that time. The home help service is willing to work days, nights and weekends but staff are refused hours and those hours are being given to private companies instead. I and many others believe there should be a review of the management of the home help service in this country. I call on the Taoiseach to start the process and by doing so to protect the future of the home help service and its delivery.

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