LIMERICK Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has expressed deep concern over ongoing cutbacks to Home Help Hours and Home Care packages in Limerick.
Speaking in response to figures he received from a parliamentary question, Deputy Quinlivan said that the figures were absolutely shocking and showed a dramatic increase in the numbers of new applicants approved by the Mid-West HSE for packages but for whom service has not commenced due to cuts in funding from the HSE.
“There is now a total of 106 applicants for both home Help and Home Care packages some of who have been waiting for service to commence for nearly six months”, he said.
According to Deputy Quinlivan, the indications are this number will increase unless there is some kind of immediate government intervention.
“The service should be ring-fenced as these are vulnerable people who more often than not also depend on already over stretched family members for their day-to-day care,” he said.
by Alan Jacques
