I need to raise the issue of delays in the delivery of home care packages to vulnerable people, particularly in the Cork and Kerry region. Across the county more than 5,000 people are waiting for home care packages, with more than 1,000 of them on waiting lists in the Cork and Kerry region. Very often these are people who have been assessed as needing a home care package and the HSE is not able to find somebody to deliver the service to them. In the meantime, these older people are struggling at home alone. They may be caring for an elderly loved one or they may be stuck in an acute hospital waiting for discharge. The HSE has identified various black spots where it is not able to deliver the service itself and neither is it able to get independent services to do that. It means that in the meantime these people are stuck while they are waiting for the service. It is hugely important that they be able to live independently with dignity and that those services be delivered in a timely manner. Can the HSE ensure that service will be delivered, especially in the black spot areas?

I do not disagree with the Deputy. We have a problem in the Cork area. I have a well-informed Minister and Minister of State here who confirm that. Notwithstanding the fact that 24 million hours were allocated for home care packages this year, which is an increase of 7 million hours compared with four years ago, that does not help the Deputy's experience and that of people in his constituency. There seems to be an issue in the Cork and Kerry area that we have to address.