Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleague, I welcome this Bill. There are three issues I want to raise. The Minister of State referred in his opening remarks to the additional investment of €10 million for respite care services. There is a chronic crisis in respite care. We were told about the extra money coming in. I have worked closely with families to try to get respite for carers, particularly those caring for people with intellectual disabilities.

I was informed yesterday morning by senior executives in the HSE that there is no money, even for the clients who have been deemed to be a priority by the service providers. It does not have any money for respite care or for the shared care scheme. That must be examined. Given all the fanfare with which it was announced last year it is simply not good enough. Families are in crisis as a result.

It is estimated that €10 billion is saved due to people working as carers for loved ones in their homes. A huge volume of work is done in that regard and we do not give enough credit to people for it. As regards the home care packages and home helps, a circular has been issued by the HSE to various people working in the home help services stating that no holiday cover will now be given. It is withdrawing all holiday cover during the summer months. In previous times when a home help was going on holidays the person could get a colleague to cover. I pay tribute to the significant work being done by home helps throughout the country. My family has had the benefit of home help services for many years and I cannot say how grateful we are as a family, in the first instance, and as a community for the benefit of that service. A directive has now been issued from the HSE and as a result there is no holiday cover available if somebody takes annual leave, as a person is entitled to. This is putting families and the people in receipt of home help in a crisis situation. It is deplorable and must be examined. If we are serious about dealing with people who need these services we must ensure the services are available. The enormous service the home helps and carers are giving the State is not being given the proper recognition it is due.

I will conclude on those three points regarding respite care, home helps and carers in general.

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