Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, the Government gave a commitment to increase funding for home care packages and home help year on year but the reality on the ground in Cavan-Monaghan is very different. I know of a terminally ill man who has had cancer for the past five years. During those five years, his home help was removed. Not only that, he now lies very ill in Lisdarn unit for the elderly in Cavan with no home help available to enable him to go home. I know of a 99 year old terminally ill woman in County Monaghan who is awaiting home help. I also know an 86 year old woman who had a very serious stroke last August who has been granted home help but has no home help available to her. I have information telling me that as of yesterday, the HSE has instructed that there be a complete lock down on home help across Cavan-Monaghan. I raise this issue as a matter of urgency. On behalf of people who are dying or sick in their homes, Lisdarn unit for the elderly and other respite units, I ask the Tánaiste to look at what is happening. How could the HSE dare to give an instruction that no home help be allocated to people?

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