Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to introduce uniform home care services so all recipients can receive quality support seven days a week. The Minister of State is right that every year the funding has increased but it is still not sufficient to meet the demand that exists. The Minister of State spoke about 205 people waiting. That is actually 205 families waiting for some help and support so they can bring their loved ones home, where they want to keep them and where they want to be themselves, and where they can be looked after. We all know the cost of nursing home care. It is €1,000 or €1,200 a week. The sum of €100 a week would keep people in their homes with the support and help of their families. Quite honestly, it is economic madness not to provide the funding. I agree the funding has increased but not sufficiently to look after these people. It is small money when we compare it to the cost of the children's hospital, which I agree has to be built and is badly needed. When we consider we are over budget on the children's hospital by €450 million or €500 million, I believe €5 million would solve the home help problem nationally. It would allow people to have enough home help and home care to look after their loved ones at home. The Government owes it to these people who have worked all their lives, paid their taxes and reared their families. Now they are being left without support or help. It is wrong. Some people wait for three and a half months. It is disgraceful and the Government should do something. We are not speaking about millions or billions of euro. We are speaking about small money of €4 million or €5 million to sort out the problem for the people.

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