Health Minister Criticised For Failing To Halt Reduction In Home Help Hours

Fianna Fáil has slammed Minister for Health Simon Harris for failing to halt a reduction in allocated home help hours.

In a parliamentary reply to the party's Spokesperson on Older People, Mary Butler, HSE revealed between January and February this year, 1.65 million home help hours were provided compared to 1.7 million over the same period last year.

Laois and Offaly experienced a 27% reduction, while Dublin South City saw a 21% reduction. In addition, there was a 15% cut in Waterford.

Criticising Minister Harris, Deputy Butler said the national reduction in home help hours of just over 50,000 "demonstrates that Minister Harris's promises and commitments to older people rings hollow.".

"While there are some parts of the country that have seen moderate increases in their allocations, there are vast swathes of the country that have had major reductions in home help support," she said.

"Laois and Offaly saw a 27% reduction, following by Dublin South City with a reduction of nearly 21%, and my own county of Waterford was inflicted with a 15% cut.

"Every home help hour that is cut is an hour of support that, by and large, keeps older people in their homes for longer. It allows them to retain their independence. Equally, when home help hours aren't provided, it makes discharging older people from hospital more difficult, eventually ending with more citizens lying on hospital trolleys as they wait to be admitted to a ward.

"Time and time again, the Minister, his Ministers of State, and his officials wax lyrical about the importance of primary care. Home Help is a basic service that ensures support and quality care is provided to our older citizens. The Minister must ensure that this reduction in home help hours does not continue over the remainder of the year."

(LM)