Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to invite the newly-appointed Minister for Health to come to the Seanad for a specific debate on the strategies that should be employed to ensure that more people are treated in their homes, thus reducing hospital waiting lists and unemployment. There is huge potential to increase the number of home help hours available. This should be at worst cost neutral and probably a cost benefit as it would keep people out of expensive care elsewhere. It is also where people are happiest.

We need a debate on increasing the number of home help hours available and getting much more comprehensive home help packages, particularly in the case of people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc., where there should be no age restrictions. Much can be done with home care packages. I agree with the sentiments of Senator Conway-Walsh in regard to carers. Large-scale reform of the home carer scheme is required. The amount home carers receive and their fringe benefits should be increased and it should be made an attractive option for people to stay at home and care for loved ones, because home is where people want to be. I believe the potential of home helps, home help packages and carers has not been fully exploited as a method of keeping people at home, eliminating waiting lists and increasing cost effectiveness.

I ask the Leader to examine this issue. The Leader is a former distinguished chair of the health committee and will have an appreciation of the potential that exists. We need to think outside the box, we need to spend a lot more money in this sphere and we need to take action urgently. It is a very important debate.