The home help service is vital to help elderly and vulnerable people to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Everyone will agree this is the most cost-effective way to care for the elderly. The Kerry and Cork budget for this vital service has been cut by €3 million, however. Some genius of an official did not include travel in the costing. The home help staff do not have wings and cannot fly from house to house. I ask the Taoiseach to examine the budget. The Government is saying the Exchequer returns are strong.

On top of that, there is an issue with the fair deal scheme. No money was provided last week to Kerry and Cork for the scheme. What is going on?

Is the Taoiseach asleep? Is the Minister for Health asleep? What are they doing? It is no wonder there was an overrun in the children's hospital.

Right. The Taoiseach will answer.

The travel costs of home help people in Kerry were not budgeted for.

No one has a right to the ownership of this.

Yes.

The Taoiseach will answer the question.

I am asking him to answer it.

Nobody has the right-----

What is happening?

There has been no cut to the budget for home help hours in the Cork-Kerry area. I can confirm for the Deputy that there has been a significant increase this year in the overall allocation of home help hours made available for the Cork-Kerry CHO 4 area, which is the area I happen to represent as well. I can tell the Deputy that there has been no cut and no reduction. There has been an increase in the number of hours made available.

That is not true.

As regards funding for the fair-----

There is a reduction of €3 million.

There is no reduction in the allocation of home help hours for this area. There is an increase in the number of home help hours there this year.