Carer shortage leaves almost 1,000 people in Cork and Kerry without homecare

This year 150 new carers, formally known as Health Care Support Assistants (HCSA), have been recruited, including 66 hired in May.

There are now nearly 1,000 people waiting for homecare in Cork and Kerry - among the more than 6,000 who are waiting nationally - due to the critical shortage of carers.

The Munster figure has risen from 800 people in March to 970, while the national figure has also jumped - from the 5,000 waiting at the end of last year. Most of those on the waiting list are elderly.