Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to increase each year funding for home care packages and home helps. Some weeks ago, I brought to the attention of the Taoiseach that there appears to be a cap in operation on home help hours nationwide, about which he seemed unaware at the time. Since then, answers have been received on some parliamentary questions tabled that illustrate there are only 12 areas nationwide in which home help hours have not been cut. In the rest of the country, there have been savage cuts and home help hours have been cut in 21 areas, of which Cavan-Monaghan, Meath, Louth and Laois-Offaly were among the worst areas affected. This must be reviewed urgently by the Minister, Deputy Harris, in order that it can be stopped and reversed. It is extremely counter-productive, leads more people into hospital and into nursing homes and is against public policy in general. Given the Supplementary Estimate for health that has been announced, can the Taoiseach indicate whether the commitment in the programme for Government on home help hours will be realised? I have to hand the table of replies and the Taoiseach can see in red all the reductions since 2010, some of which were savage. For example, Cavan-Monaghan has experienced a decrease of 40% in home help hours. I note the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is looking at me in surprise. Similarly, there has been a reduction of 34% in south Tipperary. These are huge figures that have been given in the parliamentary replies to Members.

Second, the cybercrime Bill is listed in order that the convention on cybercrime can be ratified.

Members have already articulated the very serious issue of the appalling activity online and on social media, where people have been targeted with vile abuse, among them politicians, which is totally outrageous and unacceptable. In that context, the Taoiseach might indicate when we can expect the cyber-crime Bill to be put through the House.

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