Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One would cut home help waiting lists if Google Maps and Eircode postcodes were used instead of the flat-rate method of allocating four hours' travel for every 39 hours worked by home helps, irrespective of the mileage they do. The flat-rate system does not work in large towns or cities. From my research, this flat-rate system overstates the national average time travelled by home helps between calls by approximately 100 minutes. Based on that estimate, the home help waiting list could be slashed by one third by using Google Maps and Eircode postcodes to plan travel for home helps. This would release an extra 2,000 home help hours every single day.

This is just one example of the HSE going for the administrative soft option rather than focusing on the needs of home helps, carers and, more important, those for whom they are caring. In the past three years, the home help budget has increased by half but this has not been reflected in an increase in home help hours. Is it not time we asked why?

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