Call for urgent action to tackle homecare crisis

It's claimed thousands of people cannot get a carer.

Local TD Pauline Tully has called for urgent action from the Government to tackle ongoing issues with the availablity of home care supports.

She says new figures revealed "shocking" numbers of people across the state have been left without much-needed carers.

Figures released by the HSE, show almost 5,000 people across the state are waiting for a carer to be allocated to them. That's despite them being approved.

Commenting on the figures, Deputy Tully, who's Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Disability and Carers, said:

“Figures released to me by the HSE in response to a parliamentary question expose a growing crisis when it comes to home carers in Ireland.

“Almost 5,000 people are in this unacceptable situation across the state. Every area is affected.

“This is unacceptable. Sinn Féin has been warning for many years now of a looming crisis without the homecare system, as too many people who require homecare aren’t getting the hours that they need. This crisis has spiralled during the pandemic, yet the government has consistently failed to properly plan and put contingencies in place."