Sinn Fein TD, Seán Crowe, has described the Government’s cutting of home help hours for residents living in his constituency of Dublin South West as deplorable. Crowe believes that the challenge of an aging population in the constituency merits an increase rather than a decrease in home help hours.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“It is utterly deplorable that at a time when home help is needed more than ever in Dublin South West that this Government sees it fit and appropriate to cut home help hours from a high of 171,293 in 2012 to 103,063 hours in 2017.

“The demand for home help hours in Dublin South West from senior citizens and vulnerable citizens with disabilities has gone up significantly over the past number of years. The population is getting older, which is creating challenges for primary care facilities and the local hospital.

“Every day I have people in my constituency clinics or on the phone telling me the Health Service Executive (HSE) has failed them by not delivering badly needed home help support that will enable them to live an independent life. That is unacceptable and the Government’s own statistics show that despite this they have cut home help support by 18,648 hours between 2016 and 2017.

“Behind every hour cut is a senior citizen or someone with a disability struggling to manage everyday tasks like washing themselves, cooking, making the bed, cleaning their home, or getting food and essentials from the supermarket.  In many cases they are desperately calling out for help to be told there are no support hours available.

“The situation is unfair and demoralising especially when we see some areas across the country having, quite rightly, their home help hours increased. Vital supports like home help hours shouldn’t be down to where you live or if you have a Government Minister in your constituency

“Our older citizens and those with disabilities deserve to live with respect in their homes and out of a hospital or a nursing home setting. Home help hours are vital and play a massive part in independent living. Residents living in areas like Dublin South West need to see home help hours increased in line with need and not based on their address or the area where they live.”

ENDS

Note to editor: See figures released by the HSE in tabular form below.