Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O’Brien raised the issue of the level of funding and services for home help hours. As the Senator knows, the HSE has responsibility for the delivery of home help services. The 2012 service plan provided for 10.3 million home help hours with a budget of €185 million. The HSE in its 2013 service plan has committed to maintaining the home help and home care package services at levels planned for 2012. This means that 10,870 people will be in receipt of home care packages and 10.3 million hours of services will be provided with 50,000 people receiving the service. I have some breakdowns on that if the Senator wants them. Senator John Kelly has also raised this matter on the Adjournment, so more details will be provided later.

Senator Darragh O’Brien also raised the issue of bank charges and AIB. Senator Paul Coghlan also asked for a debate on banking. The Leader did give a commitment before that we would have a debate on this matter as Senator Hayden and others had been looking for one. I will remind the Leader and see if we can get an early date for that.