Sir, – As a former family carer, I find myself virtually speechless in regard to the cuts announced last week.
While I am pleased to see that some small climbdown is to be affected, Dr Reilly’s comments as reported by Paul Cullen (Home News, September 5th) beggar belief. Some “adjustments” are now to be made by “cutting administrative, training and travel costs and by better management of the money handled by the agencies involved”.
For heaven’s sake. Why is the first impulse always to cut supports to citizens who appear to be vulnerable and voiceless (but who, happily, rarely are)? Why were these administrative savings not identified as a priority? Are we to understand that professional, efficient systems to manage taxpayers’ money are still not in place? Why was it necessary to make disabled people travel to protest in Kildare Street? Some refused to leave without written confirmation of verbal promises. They do not trust in the good faith of this Government and they are correct in their belief.
Let us now ensure that cuts to the home-help service are stopped. Surely anyone living outside the bubble of Leinster House who compares the cost of home care versus hospital or nursing-home care can see that this is a no-brainer? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I note that the brouhaha surrounding proposed cuts in the home-care service largely concerns the plight of patients and the lack of logic behind the cuts. Nobody has mentioned the jobs of the carers, many of whom are low paid, part-time workers and among the most vulnerable and unrepresented in our society.
The Minister of Health rightly points out that the Croke Park agreement prevents him from touching the 70 per cent of his budget where the real scope exists for cost reductions.
Howls from the left side of the Government are particularly disingenuous. Could it be that the Labour Party members are only interested in labour if it is in the State sector where the votes are and where the jobs are permanent and pensionable?
Those less fortunate who journey on the bus from client to client to accumulate low-paid hours of work have no voice whatsoever. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Like other disability organisations, ours has been buffeted by the very distressing news that has been emerging from those charged with supporting the healthcare needs of older people with disabilities. We know the misery that will be caused to polio survivors, in particular, over the coming months and years because so many have no option but to depend for services on State provision.
While I listen to the clamour and the blame games being played, I ask myself, “Isn’t there a bigger issue for Irish society?” I can’t help feeling that we have crossed a kind of moral threshold. There are so many well-meaning people in Ireland that it could not be beyond the national wit to provide some solutions. This is bigger than Government, bigger than the vested interests, bigger than party politics, bigger than “I’m all right Jack”.
In short, there are many who are in a position to help those coping with pain and suffering, not because they themselves are necessarily wealthy, but because they can. – Yours, etc,