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Axe to fall on home help hours
08.07.09
DONEGAL Senator Pearse
Doherty has called on people to rally against the
proposed cut of almost 30,000 home help hours
currently available to the elderly of the county.
Senator Doherty raised the issue with the Health
Minister in the Seanad in May and called on her to
ensure Donegal’s home help needs were budgeted for.
Speaking after attending a recent packed meeting
with more than 100 home care workers in the county,
Senator Doherty said: “Unfortunately the Minister
seems intent on forcing through this cut which will
see almost 30,000 home help hours go from Donegal."
HSE figures show that there are 2,246 home help
hours per month or almost 27,000 per year provided
in Donegal which are not outlined in the HSE budget. |
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"This is the reason why
we are seeing home help hours cut across the board
in Donegal. These extra hours, amounting to almost
27,000 hours per year, should be incorporated into
the HSE’s home help budget for County Donegal.
"The fact that they are currently being delivered
makes it plainly obvious that they are required. The
Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government must not take
this vitally important service from the elderly
people of Donegal," he added. He called on the
public to join the campaign against the cuts.
"I am calling on the Donegal public to |
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support our elderly and
their carers this week by supporting the rally
against these outrageous cutbacks in Ballybofey on
Saturday, July 11 at 2pm. We must force the
Government into a u-turn on this decision to cut
these services.” |
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