I want to raise the severe shortage of healthcare assistants in south Tipperary. This is a service formerly known as a home help service and the shortage is the result of no recruitment, no replacements for sick or annual leave and no replacements for resignations or staff leaving for other employment. This has resulted in significant waiting lists across the county. Hundreds of people are waiting for the service and many clients are approved for the service but it cannot be provided because of the lack of staff. There is no cover or reduced cover for vulnerable patients. This is also holding up the discharge of patients from our hospitals. Will the Tánaiste intervene with the HSE to launch a significant recruitment campaign across south Tipperary to urgently address this situation?

We have provided the health service with funding which will enable it to increase the numbers of people working in the health service, including in community healthcare, like healthcare assistants. I will ask the Minister for Health and the HSE to directly revert to the Deputy on the situation in south Tipperary and see what can be done to assist. The HSE should be in the business of seeking to recruit more people. Sometimes there can be challenges in identifying appropriate people but I know the human consequences of waiting times for people trying to access home help. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the HSE to come back to the Deputy directly.