Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be honest, that answer is not worth the paper it is written on. There is nothing there that could in any way satisfy the 796 people who are on the waiting list. I outlined these specific cases. How many more cases are there across the country where people are taking up hospital beds when they just need to have a home care package in place? More funding has to be allocated for 2019 if the Government wants to see any reduction in the number of people waiting in hospitals for a home care package.

We are currently in a trolley crisis. August was the worst month on record and I heard this morning that 33 people are on trolleys in Naas hospital. Families cannot afford to put supports in place but they hate to see their relatives unable to come home due to the lack of supports. This is putting them in penury. Something has to be done to resolve the issue. Home care is a far better system for the patient and for the taxpayer when one considers the cost of keeping people in hospital. The Minister of State has to give solid answers and a solid vision for improving the current system. It is simply not good enough.

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