Dovida Ireland, a private provider under HSE contract, contacted families just after 10pm last Thursday, May 28.

“With immediate effect Dovida has been instructed by the HSE, bank holiday cover will only be granted where a client has a clinical classification of Priority 1,” it said in an email. This meant only the sickest people would be helped.

Bernadette Byrne said she feared for the welfare of her 95-year-old mother in East Cork. While she visits regularly from her home abroad, she was not due to travel this week.

She has care five days a week and additional support at weekends, said Ms Byrne.

“I find it absolutely scandalous. I fail to see what kind of savings this is going to generate for the Department of Health.” 

The Irish Examiner contacted various HSE offices and Dovida Ireland on Friday. 

On Sunday evening, Ms Bryne received another group email, stating: “There has been review and engagement with senior HSE management over the weekend”, which led to “a request to reverse the cancellation of care, where possible". 

Meanwhile, in April, 555 people in Cork and Kerry were approved for homecare but were waiting for a carer, while another 347 approved for extra hours were also waiting.

“Many of the older people requiring support live in isolated or rural locations, and this is challenging for Home Support Services,” said a spokeswoman for HSE South West.

She said it is easier to recruit carers in towns, where they can rely on public transport.

“Regrettably others are waiting up to six months and some are waiting over 12 months,” said the spokeswoman.

 “There are currently 105 people on the waitlist over 12 months in this region. We regret that anyone is waiting for their homecare package and every effort is made to provide care as soon as possible.” 

HSE South West delivers home supports to 8,518 older people and works with 27 private providers.

In Waterford and Wexford 357 people are waiting for a carer or additional hours.

In South Tipperary and Carlow-Kilkenny, 538 people are waiting and in the Dublin/Wicklow area 291. All are waiting on carers, said a spokeswoman for HSE Dublin and South East.

The HSE in that region delivers homecare to 11,190 people and works with 27 private providers.

Waiting times depend on carer access, said the spokeswoman, explaining that this depends on location, “with challenges arising predominantly in our more rural areas". 

HSE Dublin and South East has vacancies equivalent to 32 full-time jobs.

We appreciate how important the home support packages are to people and sincerely regret that anyone must wait.

Nationally 5,406 older people are waiting for home support services, Siptu officials told the Oireachtas health committee in May.

Organiser Liz Cloherty said: “There’s 256 less positions now in the HSE than there was in 2023.” 

Fuel costs are a barrier for rural carers, she said, adding that they use their own cars and “current civil service mileage rates are not sufficient to cover the cost of wear and tear of their vehicles.”