Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
608 Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will now review the entire casual employment trend of home help and home care service in view of (details supplied) and replace it with a proper and sustainable foundation in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31899/12]
View answerThe HSE recognises the importance of home help and home care in supporting older persons to live in their own homes/communities in accordance with Government policy. Home help and home care are delivered by the HSE, ‘Voluntary/Not-for-Profit' and private service providers.
Home care packages were introduced in 2006 and are an enhanced form of mainstream home care over and above home help. They also include elements of nursing, therapies and respite and are designed to assist more dependent people, including those in danger of admission to an Acute Hospital, or to facilitate those needing discharge from an Acute Hospital. They are an additional service to assist older people to continue to live at home. The increase in the funding to the private home care companies referred to by the Deputy simply reflects the increase in funding in the sector over the period from 2007 to 2010. The HSE employs almost 9,000 home helps directly, and the terms and conditions of these staff are covered by an agreement negotiated with the representative Trade Unions in 2009. Some issues in this agreement regarding contracts are the subject of hearings in the Labour Court. On 29th June 2012, the Court gave a ruling which stated: "The parties should enter into meaningful discussions on finalising this new agreement, which should be completed within one month of the date of this Recommendation. In the event that there are any outstanding issues they may be referred back to the Court for a definitive Recommendation.". The HSE is fully committed to implementing this Labour Court recommendation.
The recruitment of home helps by the HSE is subject to overall Government policy on employment and remuneration in the public sector, including the recruitment embargo.
