Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I acknowledge the Minister is taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children but it is amazing that the information that has been provided is the same information that was provided in June 2009.

I have two documents in front of me. One is a document signed by the local health manager in Donegal, John Hayes, which clearly outlined the hours to be delivered for the remainder of 2009 were to be 52,500, information the Minister for Health and Children does not know according to the reply. The other is a response to a parliamentary question dated 13 March 2010 to Deputy Arthur Morgan, my party colleague, that clearly outlines that it is envisaged that the HSE Donegal would provide approximately 46,000 home help hours per month in 2010 in accordance with the 2010 service plan. That service plan was agreed by the HSE.

It is unbelievable that the Minister for Health and Children does not know what hours will be provided in 2010, three months into the plan, and does not know what was agreed last August. I am dumbfounded a Senator would know more than the Minister for Health and Children. We are talking about 6,500 hours, a total of 78,000 per year being withdrawn. This is a serious matter. People are already losing their hours. I appreciate the Minister has no more information but it is ridiculous this is happening.

The Minister said these cuts must be made in light of economic circumstances. I am talking to families that are breaking down in tears because a parent has lost support and they do not know how to deal with that. When the same people see that €12 billion will be pumped into Anglo Irish Bank, they cannot understand it. It is all about priorities and the Government must get its priorities right. The fact the Minister for Health and Children did not even know what was happening in Donegal eight months ago is unacceptable. Should she still be Minister if this is the case?