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

I refer to pages 85 and 86 of the programme for Government on making older years better years. During the talks on government two years ago many Rural Independent Group Deputies highlighted the difficulties with home help being delivered to our elderly, especially with home help not being available over weekends and bank holidays. The Government agreed in the programme for Government to allow seven-days-a-week home-help service where possible but two years later, I see little or no evidence of the seven-days-a-week home help available in west Cork even though workers on the ground are seeking extra hours. This weekend, many of the elderly, who in many cases live alone, will not see a home-help service from Friday until Tuesday. Promises in the programme for Government are meaningless in this situation. When will a seven-days-a-week home-help service be openly available?

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