Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The situation regarding home helps and the provision of home help is appalling all over the country, but especially in south Tipperary and west Waterford. In this regard, I have been dealing with the case of a constituent of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, namely a 92-year-old man from Tooraneena who had home help provided by a gentleman through Home Instead. That gentleman has now decided to move to the HSE but the HSE will not allow him to keep caring for the person. I have engaged with the Dungarvan team and it has been very helpful, but it just does not have the staff. Answers are trotted out here to the effect that there are heaps of money but the Government knows better than I do that the staff are not available. It is shameful to see elderly people in these circumstances. With a little home help, they could be kept out of hospital, with all that entails, including costs. The man in question is not recovering well. Can the Taoiseach or Minister of State, Deputy Butler, please do something meaningful in this case? Those involved have been in touch with the office of the Minister of State as well. We encounter these cases hourly in our offices. Every day of the week, people cannot get home help. A little is all they want but they cannot get it.

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