Home support services are dire at present. Elderly and vulnerable people who are sick are being told they have been approved for home support hours but it is not possible to get staff to fill these positions. When is the HSE going to wake up, smell the coffee and decide it must have better conditions and supports for these very valuable workers as part of an effort to retain these workers and recruit more of them? The HSE cannot just wipe its hands and say "Tough" and it cannot get staff. Across the economy, businesses and everybody else are struggling with staff, so the HSE must adapt. It is just not good enough to tell people they have been approved for home support. People's hours are now being approved very quickly but the HSE is then telling them there is nobody available. People are getting a standard reply. It is not acceptable. People need home supports. It keeps them out of hospitals and frees up hospital beds. It is a win-win situation for everyone if this is done right.

I will have to double-check but my understanding is that an agreement was reached recently on increased pay and improved terms and conditions for people who work in home care. I hope that will make a difference. The other area where we have made a change is in work permits. We are allowing people to come here from outside Europe to work in home care, which had not been permitted in the past. People could come from overseas to work in nursing homes but not in home care. That change has also been made.