Protest against cuts to Home Help services

“The latest Government cuts to Home Help and Home Care Packages will see almost 1,000,000 hours withdrawn from the system over a 12-month period. These services are essential to the health, well-being and quality of life of those availing of them"

HOME HELP and Care workers will lead a protest march from the GPO to Leinster House in Dublin on Wednesday (17 October) in protest at proposals to reduce Home Help hours and Home Care Packages. Care workers say that the proposed cuts would seriously damage the quality of life of elderly and disabled recipients of care.

The march will coincide with a Dáil debate on the issue. The motion, proposed by Sinn Féin, calls on the Government to immediately reverse the cuts to Home Help hours and Home Care Packages and to return funding to pre-Budget 2012 levels.

Sinn Fein's health spokesperson, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said: “The latest Government cuts to Home Help and Home Care Packages will see almost 1,000,000 hours withdrawn from the system over a 12-month period. These services are essential to the health, well-being and quality of life of those availing of them. They allow people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and in their own communities. They are a crucial part of community-based healthcare which helps avoid many thousands of acute hospital in-patient hours.”

The protest will start at the GPO on O'Connell Street at 3pm. Organisers have called on political parties, trade unions and members of the public to take part in the demonstration and show their support.