There is a commitment in the programme for Government to increase the number of home help hours. Earlier this week my colleague, Deputy O'Reilly, received figures from the Department of Health which show that of those approved for home help services in the State some 6,285 are still waiting for them. In the former constituency of Laois-Offaly the figure is 578.

Given its population size Laois-Offaly is the worst in the country. Compare this with Louth where there are only two people waiting or the kingdom of Kerry where there are no people waiting, according to the figures I have. Some of the people in Laois-Offaly who have been waiting will, unfortunately, die while waiting for a home help. They are the most vulnerable people in society and they want to stay in their own homes and communities, which makes economic sense.

Reference was made earlier to hospitals and hospital services. We now have a bed-blocking situation where people cannot be released from hospital and return home because there is no home care package in place. We need to solve this problem. What steps is the Government taking to meet this growing need, especially in Laois-Offaly?

The Deputy has made his point.

Will the Government make funding available to deal with the crisis-----

Deputy Stanley's time is up.

-----in home help?

Deputy Carol Nolan has indicated. Is it on the same matter?

It is scandalous that there are 570 people in Laois-Offaly awaiting home help. I am aware there is a serious problem with home help hours and home care packages. The programme for Government refers to caring for our elderly people, but it is far from the case. I have people in my office every day of the week despairing over the fact they do not have home help hours. I have pointed out previously in the Chamber that many elderly couples are trying to take care of each other. These are elderly couples with health conditions and they are unable to cope. It is scandalous. We need something done here. Urgent action must be taken because hospital beds are being occupied. It is unacceptable and we must take action to ensure that Laois-Offaly is given adequate provision for home help hours and home care packages.

This matter was dealt with earlier, but perhaps I can reply again or in more detail. Home help and home care packages are very valuable and very cost effective. The Deputies are correct in that respect. The packages allow people to return home from hospital, allow people to avoid going into hospital in the first place and allow people to live at home for much longer before they require long-term care. For that reason we have increased the budget dramatically over the past three years. It was €306 million in 2015 and it is €420 million this year. It will increase again next year, and this will be outlined in the HSE service plan. Once again we are adding more staff, more resources and more money but not getting the results we would like to see. This is further evidence that what we need is not just more money, more staff and more resources. We need system change also. This is why we propose to establish a statutory scheme for home care modelled on the fair deal scheme.

There is significant variation from county to county but I ask the Deputies to bear in mind that the Sláintecare report, to which all Members have committed, proposes that we have greater devolution and greater regionalisation of healthcare. We need to think that through also. People cannot demand the implementation of Sláintecare one minute and then say they are against regional autonomy and regional variation the next.