The HSE provided almost 900,000 (896,287) home help hours in Kerry last year.
At the end of December, more than 2,300 (2,326) clients were receiving the HSE’s home support service in Kerry, with 28 clients waiting to access the service for the first time.
This represents an 88% drop in the number of people waiting compared with three years ago.
A further 82 existing clients were awaiting additional home help hours, down by 50% since 2023.
The figures were provided to Councillor Jackie Healy Rae at the South West Regional Health Forum (RHF) in Tralee.
Councillor Healy Rae also asked how many home help recipients were receiving their full allocation of hours, and how long people typically wait to receive services or additional hours once approved.
The HSE representative said these figures were not available at the meeting but promised to provide them later.
HSE South West said recruitment remains one of the biggest challenges in delivering home support services across Kerry and Cork.
Officials confirmed that 105 home care staff were recruited in 2024, but this was offset by 161 retirements, resulting in a net loss of 56 staff.
The age profile of Home Care Assistants was highlighted as a key factor, with many staff in the upper age brackets contributing to high retirement levels.
Two regional recruitment campaigns have since been carried out, resulting in 60 new staff starting roles.
A further recruitment drive has just closed, attracting 179 applicants.
The HSE said dedicated recruitment co-ordinators are now in place.
Updated figures comparing current staffing levels with 2024 were not available at the meeting.
HSE South West said it is the largest public provider of home care in Ireland.
It also confirmed that a vacant Home Care Assistant Manager post in West Kerry is not preventing home help approvals, although officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the post will be filled.
