Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Has the Cabinet committee on health discussed the recruitment of people into the health service? There is a very serious situation with more than 20% of posts for care assistants, for example, in the Cork-Kerry region to be filled. Home helps are a vital service in supporting people who want to live at home and in their own communities, and to avoiding people having to go to hospital. The home help service is also a great support for their carers.

This issue has been constantly raised by people in my office. They have been approved home help hours but staff are not available to deliver the service. The HSE has confirmed that there are particular issues locally in Ballincollig, Dunmanway, Macroom and Millstreet where they have struggled to recruit home help workers. This is not exclusively an HSE issue because even private contractors who aim to deliver the service are also struggling. This is also impacting on disability services such as the Cope Foundation in Macroom. Has there been any discussion on this topic at this Cabinet committee?

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