Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking this matter. Senators John Kelly and Denis O'Donovan have outlined the position which was clearly stated in previous discussions by our colleague, Senator John Whelan.

There are 535,000 people in Ireland over 65 years of age, which represents an increase of 12% since the 2006 census. The CSO has showed that between now and 2036, 15,000 more people will need home help care. The use of Exchequer funding for the provision of the home help service, undoubtedly, represents good value for money, in providing a service in people's homes, thus preventing them from having to go into nursing homes which would impose a further cost on the State. Everybody agrees with this.

The issue we are trying to get to the bottom of, as Senators John Kelly and Denis O'Donovan have outlined, is that there was a cut of €8 million in the last quarter of 2012 and that money was to be restored in the 2013 budget. The evidence available to me, through my constitutency, my constituency office and the people with whom I deal on a daily basis, shows that the hours removed have not been restored. Reassessments were made in early 2013. People who were in need of home help hours in 2012 are now being told that they are not in need of them in 2013. The people concerned are a year older and more infirm, yet a decision has been made that the hours do not need to be restored. Clearly, there is some trick of the loop when we are being told in various reports, to which Senator John Kelly alluded, that at regional level hours are being restored. Perhaps they are, but they are not being restored to the people from whom they were removed in 2012. They have the same health problems and are now a year older, but they are not receiving the samen umber of home help hours. It is falling on families who are hard pressed as it is to provide a service for their elderly mother or father on a private basis. They are unable to do this and are coming to us. I want to know from the Minister of State what is happening about this issue. That is the crux of matter. In anticipation of his reply, I thank him for coming to the House to deal with it.