Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue is the increase in intensive home care packages of 13% in County Meath, which more than balances out the drop in individual hours being delivered to which the Deputy referred. They are being delivered through packages for people as opposed to individually. Notwithstanding this, I accept what the Deputy has said and I accept his acknowledgement of the challenge in recruitment. It is something we also experience in my constituency of Cork South-West. It is particularly challenging to get staff. This will be one of the key areas of focus for me when I review the scheme, to try to deliver a home help scheme along the lines of the fair deal scheme, whereby people will be able to get the care they need by statute and that it will be there on demand and delivered to them, as opposed to what some might describe as a postcode lottery in the current system, whereby how lucky a person is depends on where he or she lives. I accept the spirit in which the Deputy has put the question and I hope I have clarified it as best I can.

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