John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response, but she is being misled by the HSE. I ask that she rings Dr. Cathal Morgan, Ms Janette Dwyer, and Ms Kate Killeen White, all of whom work for the HSE. Each of those three are involved in managing services in the area in which SOS Kilkenny is located. The Minister of State should ask them why that man is in hospital and why services in SOS are being continually run down. She should ask them why the 50 business cases are not being approved and why there is no direct engagement with SOS to assist Francis Coughlan in delivering the services committed to.

The Minister of State says that the budget is there and that approved services will be maintained at their 2018 levels. The 2018 levels do not reflect the amount of activity that should be taking place in the service. It represents a reduction on the services provided in 2017, which was itself a reduction on 2016. The Minister of State's comment was not inaccurate, but it is very misleading to say that services are at their 2018 levels. We do not want them at those levels. We want to fulfil the commitment given by those who started the service, which was to deliver a lifelong service to those who need it. That is not being done. It is not being achieved. People and their families are appalled that the HSE has not responded. It is showing no humanity and no compassion whatsoever. It is hard to stand by and listen to that type of answer from the HSE or the Department of Health when they know full well that the services are pushed to the pin of their collar and are unable to deliver what is demanded of them, let alone what they wish to deliver, because clients requiring services are turning up in great numbers. The HSE is turning a blind eye.

I revert to the issue of management. Those in management must explain why this is happening. They must be made accountable and must be transparent. I again encourage the Minister of State to make those three phone calls and to seek some form of humanity, compassion or relief in respect of what SOS is trying to achieve in Kilkenny.

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