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

The Minister of State read out some staggering figures. However, a HSE spokesperson has said the opposite to what is in the response of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. The spokesperson said: "while the budget increased in 2019, that increase will not allow us to deliver an overall increase in the number of hours of care delivered because the cost of delivering the service has increased". The spokesperson continued:

In order to balance budget 2019 there will be a reduction in the level of new hours provided compared to early in 2019. This will continue until early November.

Those are the words of the HSE spokesperson which flies in the face of the response read by the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly.

As we know, there has been a significant increase in the numbers waiting for home support, from 4,481 waiting for public home help and a home care package in 2016 to 6,283 in March 2019. In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan there are 253 people waiting, which is significant. I draw the attention of the Minister of State to the fact that many in need of home care help only receive it on a Monday to Friday basis, and they are the lucky ones. Clearly, this is inadequate in terms of health and social needs in terms of not operating outside a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday service. The result is many people end up being prisoners in their homes, and often their beds, with no quality of life. It is beyond time for the HSE to wake up and respond to people's real needs. It should not be a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, service. We need a Monday to Monday service, including over the summer holidays. We all know of families left high and dry when their home support worker goes on holidays, while acknowledging that support workers have to go on holidays.

The HSE is saying the opposite to everything the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, has said to the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath.

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