A CONCERNING decline in the number of home care assistants in West Cork has been highlighted by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns TD.

Figures released to her on foot of a parliamentary question indicate a worrying decline in the number of home care assistants for Cork South and West over the past number of years.

The HSE confirmed there were 406 home care assistants registered in the region in December 2015 – but by December 2025 this number had fallen by 93 to 314, representing a sharp drop of over 20%.

Deputy Cairns, who represents Cork South-West, said: ‘Given our aging population and the increased need for home care assistants, it is concerning to see a decline in numbers since a high point in 2017.

‘Allowing people to safely and comfortably stay in their own homes should always be the preferred option, and we need to be resourcing out home care teams to achieve that.

‘I am contacted regularly by people in Cork South-West, who feel that while the people delivering the service are excellent, compassionate and kind, they are far too stretched. Travel time to appointments for these carers is a huge issue, with clients living on peninsulas proving too far to reach in limited time allocations.’

In response to Deputy Cairns’ parliamentary question Dean Grennan, HSE general manager, pointed out that the data shows an overall increase in the number of health care assistants of 129 nationally over the ten-year period.

However while Dublin was one of those to see increases along with Donegal and HSE Midwest, Cork South and West was among one of those to experience the sharpest decline, along with Cork North and East (-102).

‘In 2022, the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants was published, but this has effectively been shelved for the past number of years,’ said Deputy Cairns.

‘There has been no progress report published since July 2024, at which point three key recommendations – all related to recruitment – still hadn’t been implemented.

‘We need to make home care a viable career choice, with good pay, reasonable terms and conditions, and opportunities for career development. Without this in place, the sector will not be able to deliver the care needed.

‘Delivering a statutory right to home care must be a priority to ensure that older people are supported to remain in their homes. This would reduce dependency on family, friends and neighbours. And crucially it would end the State’s overreliance on institutional care.