Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ms Muriel Slevin is a constituent of mine and her son, Morgan, is awaiting a home care package. I will read a short extract from a letter she sent recently. It states:

I am writing to you once again regarding my son ... who is now 17 years of age. Morgan has been an inpatient in Crumlin Hospital since 7 April 2014. Morgan was granted a home care package earlier this year; only one agency tendered and unfortunately that fell through. My child has spent one quarter of his life in hospital, he deserves to get home. I signed for a house with South Dublin County Council on 15 October 2018, I have spent one night in it. My child has not slept in his own bed.

She further stated:

While Morgan is 17 years of age, he is developmentally delayed and dependent on others for all his personal care.

In her letter his mother further stated:

The reality is Morgan is dying, his lungs are failing and have deteriorated hugely. He needs a Home Care Package from an agency with safe and medically competent staff.

This letter was not sent to me. It was sent to the Minister for Health. In the conclusion of her letter, Morgan's mother stated:

Minister Harris, we are currently living in a diabolical situation. I am asking you as Morgan’s mother to help me bring my child home to be cared for ...

I know the Minister of State cannot intervene in individual cases, and that is not what I am asking him to do, but what he and his Government can do, through legislation, policy and funding, is get Morgan and all of the children like him who so desperately need home care packages the service they require so they can live at home in dignity and peace.

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