Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I knew that the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, was not coming in. I requested his presence but I seem to always get Deputy Byrne instead. She is always courteous to me. I would have loved if the Minister for Health came along because my Commencement matter is so serious. I am concerned with the statement that "152 clients are on a waiting list" and ask for details to be supplied to me.

The lack of home care support packages is a significant issue in the sense that people are leaving Kilkenny hospital, and families are in dire straits, but these people are crying out for help having been told that there are no home supports or support care available. The families are all working and we are trying to sort them out. They cannot avail of respite care. They are, therefore, in a serious state. I ask the Minister of State to respond on these matters.I knew the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, was not coming in. I am disappointed again. I have only got him to come in once in all the time I have been calling for him to come in. That is all I can do. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to come back to me on this. I will give her the details of the seven families I am working with. I ask her to forward those details to Deputy Daly so that I can get supports in place for these families. This is very serious. I thank her again for coming in.