Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to keep people in their homes for as long as possible. It is obvious that the provision of home help services is of assistance in this regard. The ongoing problems with such services have been raised with me all the time since I was elected. This is becoming a significant problem as we approach Christmas. People have come into my office in tears because they have been told they will not get any home help from Christmas Eve until 3 January. People who work as home helps have told me that they are willing to work over the period in question. What is the real story here? How can people be left without home help for so long over Christmas?

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