Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We still have huge issues in the constituency of Laois-Offaly in regard to home help. I am aware of many cases where an elderly person is trying to care for a son or daughter and a home help is out sick. We can all be out from time to time but when there is no replacement for the home help, people are let down very badly.

Something needs to be done in regard to recruitment and retention. If we are to address recruitment and retention issues for home carers, we need to offer better pay and conditions. Mileage, which has been brought to my attention, is a huge issue for home helps. They are doing fantastic work but they are stretched. There are not enough of them. That is the issue and I would like to see it addressed. In community healthcare organisation, CHO, 8 the plan is to deliver more than 2.3 million hours of home support this year, of which 580,542 hours are planned for counties Laois and Offaly. Unfortunately, the reality is much different.

I commend the Carers Association of Ireland and Family Carers Ireland. The latter has pointed out that caring for people in their own homes and maintaining their independence and dignity are important. This is what people want and value and it saves the State money. If pay and conditions were addressed and more home helps were recruited, we might get somewhere.

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