Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I note he has referred to old figures. He mentioned the HSE in Donegal is providing 54,246 home support hours per month, which is 2,246 hours in excess of those budgeted for. I have outlined the position for the Minister of State. The truth of what is happening on the ground is that home help hours are being cut across the board in County Donegal. Is it the position that the HSE has to remain within its budget and therefore 2,246 home help hours are been removed from people in County Donegal? Can we be assured that the number of home help hours provided in the county will not drop below 52,000 per month?