Across the country and especially in the north west, we have huge challenges in providing adequate home care for some of our most elderly and infirm citizens. I, like most TDs, receive daily correspondence from families who are allocated home help or care hours only to discover there are no qualified personnel to fulfil these allocated hours. The issue is having an impact on our care homes and mainstream hospitals as doctors are reluctant to discharge patients home when the care hours are not available for patients. Families are distressed and are asking why the HSE and Government will not resource this vital service. I met a lady last weekend who completed her level 5 qualifying course two years ago. She was asked to send her CV to the HSE and to date she has received no correspondence or interview. This is a very important issue. We find ourselves writing to the HSE and not one answer is coming back. We are getting into trouble.

I thank Deputy Feighan. On a general category, this year home support has increased by €122 million. That is the largest ever. It is at €838 million. The Deputy did not reference a specific area so he might come back to us.

Sligo-Leitrim. The north west.

Sligo-Leitrim. The funding is there. It is back to the individual regions themselves. The Deputy might come back to us so our Department can follow up with the HSE locally to ensure the funding is in place for that provision.