Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many families I represent in rural counties Carlow and Kilkenny have been granted home support services for their relatives, due to illness or advancing age. In theory, these families in Kildavin, Callan, Bagenalstown and Bennettsbridge have State support to care for their family members at home but in reality, in many cases, there are zero HSE staff to fulfil these home support hours. Hard-pressed, full-time working families are left to take matters into their own hands and draw up family rotas for covering the care of their loved ones. The issue is particularly pronounced in rural areas of my constituency, especially over weekends. Families have been told by HSE staff that if their mother was living in a town, she would be have home support but the organisation cannot get the staff to go up long lanes or into rural communities. This is not acceptable. It is not fair for people who have paid their taxes for their entire lives to not get the support they need, when they need it. What is the Government doing to ensure that there is an increased focus on recruiting and providing home support workers in rural areas and, in particular, to provide home support at weekends?

See this speech in context