3871. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that some home support recipients are being left without essential assistance at weekends due to shortages of available carers, if she will provide details of current weekend staffing levels within the home support service, the number of individuals unable to access required weekend supports, particularly morning visits, the steps being taken by the HSE to recruit and retain additional home support workers, and whether her Department has examined the impact of contractual arrangements on weekend service availability and seven day rostering. [63210/26]

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.