I want to speak this morning about the situation in regard to home help services in this country. The most recent census indicates that there are 535,393 people over the age of 65 in this country, which is 12% of our population.

The recent CSO figures predict that an extra 15,000 people will be in need of home help and home care services before 2026. The national positive ageing strategy launched last year states that it should enable people age with confidence, security and dignity in their own homes but in the last quarter of 2012 we find that home help supports were reduced by €8 million. After much discussion that was to be returned in the budget for 2013 but the evidence to date shows that has not happened. In replies to a number of parliamentary questions tabled in recent months it is clear that the budgets in some cases are below that provided in 2012. One Deputy was informed that the only way extra home help hours would be provided in his constituency was if people died.

Is the Senator looking for a debate on the issue?

I am calling on the Leader to request the Minister to come into the House to discuss this issue as a matter of urgency. We are getting one view of what is happening in replies to parliamentary questions but what is happening on the ground is a different matter. Hours are not being reinstated and people are suffering. We were told money was being put into the budget for the purpose of rectifying that but it has not happened. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister to come into the House to debate that matter.