Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)

I want to raise an issue that affects home care workers employed directly by the HSE. Up to recently, the practice was to submit claims for travel expenses on a paper form. However, the HSE has changed this and there is now an online system. One carer submitted a paper form and had it returned to her. She was told to use the online system. The online system requires the use of a tablet or laptop but not all carers have one. This is causing a lot of stress and worry because the carers do not know how they are going to submit their claims. I have written to the HSE highlighting this and I have not got a response as yet. This is a matter I want to highlight in the House to determine whether we can get an answer on it because there are many carers who do not have a laptop or tablet and need to be able to submit travel claims on paper forms.We do not want to lose any more carers in the home care sector; they are scarce enough as it is. I have asked the HSE to provide clarification whether this is the case and, if so, what kind of supports can be put in place to actually support carers to make the claims without undue hassle and worry. I would appreciate getting an answer on this.