I call Deputy Buckley to ask a very brief question as we have run out of time.

My question is about the freezing of referrals for home help hours. I appeal to the Government to think about this. In a constituency such as Cork East there was no backlog or waiting list. However, if it is shut down for five months, in five months we will be back here, with the help of God, and we will be arguing about a major crisis and backlog because the Government will not keep the revolving door open. The elderly and the disabled, who are the most vulnerable, will be hit and we will have another crisis. I appeal to the Minister of State to tell the HSE not to freeze any new referrals because we risk the prospect of facing a major crisis.

I appreciate the opportunity to confirm to the House, as I did last night, that there is no freeze in the allocation of home help hours. There is no cut to the allocation of home help hours. As a matter of absolute fact, fewer people are waiting for home help today than there were this day last year. Every week the Government provides €8 million to the HSE to provide home help.

I thank the Minister of State.

There is no change to that. There will be €8 million available next week and a further €8 million in the following and subsequent weeks. There is €400 million plus in the year.

I call Deputy Troy.

There is no freeze to home help. There are no cuts to home help.