Do the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues have any idea of the devastating impact of cuts? A woman whom I will call "Chrissie" is a full-time carer for her sister Mary, who has had Wilson's Disease since she was 14 years old. Mary is now 58. "Chrissie" is also a half-time carer for her mother who is 84 with deteriorating health. Mary was recently hospitalised unexpectedly for surgery for a burst appendix. She spent three weeks in hospital and then got one week of respite in the wonderful Cluain Arainn unit in Tipperary town.

When "Chrissie" requested home help prior to her sister's discharge, she was told that none might be available. Mary normally has home help each morning for an hour so that she can be showered, dressed, receive tablets and have a small breakfast. It was devastating for her to have her sister come home feeling weak, ill-nourished and in need of being built back up and then be told that there might not be any home help. I have the letter from the HSE. It states that no home help was available because of maternity leave and sick leave. This is happening up and down the country. It is appalling. It is causing bed blocking in hospitals and a major crisis in emergency departments. This is totally insensitive but can we expect much more from the Fine Gael party? It is shocking.

I call Deputies Butler and McGuinness on the same matter.

I am concerned that we are facing a winter of discontent for people waiting for homecare supports. New data revealed to me last weekend showed that the list of those waiting for supports has jumped from 6,238 in March to 7,346 in July. These figures are enormously disappointing as they show the extent of the unmet need nationwide. We all know the importance of homecare support. It is Government policy to support people at home with the correct wrap-around help. Unfortunately, that has become very difficult given these figures.

Government policy prior to the recess clearly stated there was no moratorium on new supports for people living at home. The figures now tell us something much different. Shockingly, Waterford showed the highest increase from 31 people waiting in March to 124 people waiting at the end of July. I know we were coming from a low base, but that is a 300% increase. When will this moratorium be lifted so that people who need homecare supports can avail of them?

The hours are being cut back in counties Kilkenny and Carlow. Elderly patients being cared for in hospitals are being sent home with no care whatsoever. There is deep concern among families about the privatisation of all of these hours and all of this care. It simply is not working out. More people are now involved in managing the system than in delivering it. I ask the Minister to seek a report immediately from the HSE and an outline as to how it will deal with this escalating problem.

The issue of home help in many regions has been raised. This targets the most vulnerable. I have been contacted by many concerned families in counties Laois and Offaly. These are people with disabilities and elderly couples trying to care for each other. What is happening is scandalous. We need it sorted out and it has to happen now.

I thank all the Deputies for raising this issue. I am well aware of the effect not being able to access this type of support quickly has on families, patients and those who are ill and vulnerable. I am well aware of the anxiety and difficulty it can cause. As the Deputies may be aware, we have €445 million worth of funding in the HSE service plan to ensure we have the right level of support in place for our citizens. At the end of June, more than 51,000 patients and families were in receipt of homecare packages. However, I am aware of the issues the Deputies have touched on and I am working with the Minister, Deputy Harris, on them. I take the point that, particularly in the run-up to the end of the year and the winter period, an issue such as this not only causes further difficulty for families and patients, it can also compound the challenges faced by our emergency departments and hospitals throughout the winter period. I thank all of the Deputies for raising the issue.