John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 54 of the programme for Government commits to increasing on an annual basis the funding for home care packages. Earlier this year I noticed a significant increase in the number of elderly people contacting my office who were concerned that they were on a waiting list for home support. They had been assessed and were then put on a waiting list. I informally mentioned it to the Minister for Health who at the time was surprised that funding issues should arise so early in the year. However, when I delved a bit deeper and got replies from both the Department and the HSE the problem seemed to be as follows. The service plan adopted for this year provides funding for 50,500 people to receive home support. At the end of February this year there were 52,000 people in receipt of home support, with more than 6,000 on a waiting list. It is worth noting that in February 2017 the home support service provided for the needs of more than 51,000 people. The problem seems to be that the figure in the service plan this year of 50,500 is grossly inadequate.

I will make one final point, a Cheann Comhairle, because this is important. I also refer the Taoiseach to the fact that the confidence and supply agreement clearly states that HSE service plans would be based on verifiable and measurable outcomes and projections, which clearly is not the case with these figures.

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