DEMOCRATIC ACTION PREVENTS €5 MILLION HOME CARE CUT

HOME-HELP HOURS TO BE RESTORED TO 2012 LEVELS

Responding to Minister Reilly’s announcement yesterday, Director of Older & Bolder, Patricia Conboy said, “Due to consistent democratic action by older people €3 million rather than the planned €8 million was cut from the home-help budget for 2012. While this will provide little comfort to those who, due to the €3 million cuts implemented, have lost vital home help hours we know that without concerted campaigning a further €5 million, equivalent to 300,000 hours, would have been cut.”

Patricia Conboy said, “The partial reversal of cuts to home care is an example of positive engagement with the political system. People around Ireland voiced their concerns about home care cuts to their local TDs who in turn lobbied for a change at cabinet level. This interaction stalled the cutting process by highlighting the illogicality of the cuts. The end result is that fewer older people have lost vital home help hours or home care packages than was originally intended.” 

Patricia Conboy continued, “We welcome Minister Reilly’s announcement that home-help hours for 2013 will be restored to levels that applied at the beginning of 2012. While heartening it is still unclear as to whether this news represents a full or partial restoration of home care services. We don’t yet know whether this will result in the restoration of hours to those who lost home-help hours during 2012 and did not receive an individual assessment.” 

Patricia Conboy concluded, “Unfortunately, until the lack of any legislative right is resolved, entitlement and access to home care services will remain uncertain.” 

Note to Editor: 

• Older & Bolder shared with supporters how their local TDs voted on the 17th October when presented with an opportunity to reverse the cuts to Home Care Services. The results of votes on Dáil motions are a matter of public record but the details are often not widely publicised.  Supporters were encouraged to contact their TDs urging them to lead a reversal of the cuts. Link to online tool: http://olderandbolder.ie/voting-record 
• The promotion of an age friendly and age inclusive society in Ireland is a core goal of Older & Bolder, an alliance of NGOs in the age sector.  The member organisations are: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, and Third Age/Senior Help Line.