Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are all familiar with the demand for home care packages in our own areas and across the country. Of course, it is a very striking feature at present that there is increased demand. There is increased investment as well but there is a huge increase in demand with the increasing number of older people. Our policy is one of keeping people in the community and making sure that they get the kind of supports that they need. In terms of prioritising areas in the health service, this is a priority area. I reassure the Deputy on that. This is a priority for the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, for the Government and for the Department of Health. Our health services remain a priority and there are additional resources being provided. As the Deputy knows, there was an additional €500 million provided earlier this year. Some 270,000 extra home help hours have been agreed along with 2,000 more home care packages.

Let us be clear. People are receiving these. These are being provided in the community. New home care packages are being given. More people are benefitting from the increased investment. However, there has also been a huge increase in demand. It is right that we fund home care packages and that we support families to enable them to cope with a disabled child, as the Deputy has described, or an older person in order that they can stay in their home. It is a priority. We now have the winter initiative, with an extra €40 million and another 950 home care packages provided. The number of home care packages is increasing all the time. However, no one will disagree with the Deputy that there are cases, individuals and families out there who need home care packages right now. The Government is doing everything possible to respond by increasing the money and the number of home care packages but we are in a situation in which there is huge demand. It is certainly a priority to meet that demand over the coming weeks and months.

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