Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Society has a duty of care to the elderly in our communities. It also has a duty of care to children with serious illnesses or disabilities as well as their families. Society has a duty to allow people to stay in their homes and be looked after there if they so wish. For many who receive home care supports, this means that they only get personal care and some meal preparation. Most will require a greater level of support and this cannot happen if the current situation continues. I have spoken to those who administer home care packages provided by the HSE throughout Dublin North West and they have told me that there is a reduction in the provision of home care packages that has resulted in a backlog of people looking for these supports. People with disabilities should have access to appropriate home care packages that will allow them to live their lives independently.

There is an obvious operational benefit arising out of the provision of home care packages. Appropriate funding and resourcing and the proper provision of home care packages would result in fewer people taking up valuable hospital beds - often for weeks at a time or sometimes even months - because there is no home care package they can avail of that would allow them to go home and free up a vital hospital bed. Those who work in this field do so more as a vocation than a job. We should recognise their contribution, which often goes beyond the call of duty.

I would like to draw attention to the issue of the loco parentisrule. While this is separate from the issue of the provision of home care packages, this rule is the cause of great frustration for many parents who care for a sick child. It is a contradiction whereby when parents have nursing staff in place for respite, they are unable to leave their home as the loco parentisrule does not allow it. Respite is vital to give parents a break from the strain and stress of caring for a sick child.

It is draining on a person’s physical and mental well-being. Carers in these circumstances need time to recharge their batteries and clear their heads. It makes no sense that parents receiving respite cannot avail of it because of this rule. Home help is an important mechanism allowing people to stay in their homes giving them a decent quality of life.

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