Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response but I am shocked by it. I understand that funding has been provided and that the Government and programme for Government have indicated there is to be support for home care hours but there are still challenges that we have to rectify. No one else is going to rectify the recruitment problems within the HSE, or within the CHOs. We have to do this. We have to consider the number of third-party providers of consumer-directed home support. How many of them are being used to support the CHOs in delivering what is required? The staff within the CHOs are struggling and crying out for help trying to deal with this.

There are 651 people waiting on carers, including 212 in Galway, 325 in Mayo and 114 in Roscommon. These individuals all have families that are struggling and looking for help urgently. Our hospitals are not able to accommodate the individuals. We saw the waiting lists. We noted the issues in University Hospital Galway yesterday. In Portiuncula hospital, and probably in Roscommon town, the relevant figure is over 60. There is nowhere for the patients to go. Some are living longer, which is great. Life expectancy is increasing, which is wonderful, but we are still not able to support people living in their own homes. This is all part of Sláintecare. The affected people have suffered over the past 18 months.

I am aware that the Minister of State is doing her best but we have to do more. I would be interested in comparing my CHO area to others. Is it the same for other CHO areas? For other geographical areas, is it the same? I would be very interested in finding out. I thank the Minister of State very much.