John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to talk about an issue that affects my local area and other areas across the country, that is, the severe lack of carers in the country to be able to provide home care packages. It is an issue I have been dealing with over recent months, particularly with one family. I spoke to Sinéad, the daughter of the lady for whom I have been working, and she gave me permission to mention the following story, which highlights the issue we have in providing carers. Ann Hearty was 61 years of age when, unfortunately, she had a debilitating stroke. She was to be discharged from the hospital, pending a home care package, on 20 September 2021. However, 17 days later, here we are on 6 October, and she has not been discharged due to a lack of carers.

The family were unable to apply for a housing adaptation grant because the sheer amount of money required was too much for what a housing adaptation grant could provide.They put a serious amount of their life savings into adapting their home so Anne could come home, yet she is sitting in a hospital bed in Dundalk. She has been unable to come home for 17 days because, while 50% of the carers needed can be provided, the other 50% cannot. How can we turn around with a straight face to a family and say we want their loved one to continue occupying a hospital bed and that she cannot be taken home because of a lack of home care packages and carers?

The reason I ask about this is simple. I do not just want to have debate because we all have different stories and anecdotes about this; I want an answer. First, I want to know why there is such a lack of carers. Is this something that has emerged because of Covid? Was it clouded in the mists of Covid such that it is only on emerging from Covid that we realise there is a situation? Why do we have a lack of carers? What does the Government want to do to resolve it? In this day and age, it is just not acceptable to have discharge dates overdue for 17, 18, 19 or 20 days. People want to be cared for in the home. We need to have them looked after in the home and to get them home. We can do that only with proper carers. I would love to know why we do not have them at this point.