I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue on the Adjournment this evening and I thank the Minister for coming here to reply.
The explanatory document sent by the North-Eastern Health Board to all home help and home care assistants stated that people with only one client will not qualify for payment of a travel allowance and will no longer receive transport expenses from the board. That sent shivers and shockwaves through the entire caring community, those who provide this essential and invaluable service and those who benefit from it. Those people with more than one client would receive payment for those clients but not on the initial journey from home to the first client or from the last client home. To claim payment, employers using a private vehicle must get their motor insurance company to indemnify the North-Eastern Health Board. In some cases that may cost €100.
The document clearly stated that home carers who attend only one client will not be entitled to payment of travel expenses regardless of the number of times they call to a client on any given day. It also stated that home care assistants currently in receipt of mileage allowance to attend one client are no longer entitled to claim for this journey. This journey is effectively a journey to work for such employees. Where such an arrangement exists they should cease with immediate effect. Can anyone explain how one can classify a one hour call to an aged or handicapped person as a full-time job? This is ridiculous.
I am pleased that in the past 24 hours senior health board officials have assured me that the 15p per mile allowance will not be taken away from these people and that no one will be worse off as a result of the new regulation. That change is welcome. However, the 15p per mile is not sufficient to cover anyone's costs and few, if any, receive mileage allowance at this level. It is very wrong for the Government to take away cash from these caring people. They provide a service not just for their clients but also for the State by allowing elderly and disabled people to remain in their homes rather than in hospital or a home for the elderly. Many carers told me they have great trouble obtaining their pay and allowances for which they must often wait for months. Most people receive their pay per week so why is that not the case with carers?
I am aware of the case of two handicapped adults who are looked after by their mother. They used to be able to get two weeks respite care for the handicapped. They have now been advised this is no longer available but their mother has been assured they will receive two weeks in St. Davnet's Psychiatric Hospital if necessary. Their brother died last year and their mother is over 80 years of age. Given the Celtic tiger, is this the sort of treatment these people deserve?
I have been contacted by the Rehabilitation Institute whose budget has been severely cut. I am sure my colleagues also received this letter.