Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I share the indignation, anger and upset of my colleagues at the way that people who need home help hours are being treated. My colleagues have gone through the figures. Kildare is one of those counties that features highly in terms of waiting lists.

As I mentioned, I specifically asked about respite. Respite is not mentioned once in the Minister of State's response, and I have gone through it twice. Respite, while going hand in hand with the home packages, is a particular form of intervention, help and support to families in crisis.

I mentioned already the agencies that I met in Kildare. They have told me of the distress and the unsustainable situations that many families find themselves in. In some cases, these have led to emergency admissions to full-time residential care, which is difficult to get. I am disappointed the Minister of State did not address the area of respite. While money comes into it, it is about the outcomes. It is about the difference we can make to families who need it.

See this speech in context