In a rare move, the Ceann Comhairle is to seek time for a debate on the HSE plan to slash home help hours due to the virtually unprecedented number of TDs seeking to have the matter discussed, Denis Naughten TD, has confirmed.
“The unusual step by the Ceann Comhairle clearly highlights the level of anger among TDs right across the political spectrum to the decision by the HSE to suspend the allocation of home help hours to older people and their carers for the next five months.
“This undermines the Programme for Government, the HSE’s own Service Plan for 2019 and the all-party Oireachtas Health Committee report, Slainte Care, on the reform of the health service in Ireland.
“We now have a situation where Government policy and Dáil Éireann are at complete variance with the policy actions by the HSE and they need to reverse these cuts immediately,” Deputy Naughten emphasised.
