Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to increase the number of home help hours. Earlier this week my colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, received figures from the Department of Health which show that of those approved for home help services in the State some 6,285 are still waiting for them. In the former constituency of Laois-Offaly the figure is 578.

Given its population size Laois-Offaly is the worst in the country. Compare this with Louth where there are only two people waiting or the kingdom of Kerry where there are no people waiting, according to the figures I have. Some of the people in Laois-Offaly who have been waiting will, unfortunately, die while waiting for a home help. They are the most vulnerable people in society and they want to stay in their own homes and communities, which makes economic sense.

Reference was made earlier to hospitals and hospital services. We now have a bed-blocking situation where people cannot be released from hospital and return home because there is no home care package in place. We need to solve this problem. What steps is the Government taking to meet this growing need, especially in Laois-Offaly?

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