Ruth Coppinger
Question:886. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of introducing universal free home care. [34571/17]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2017
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The HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering home and other community - based services for older people. Services are provided on the basis of assessed health-care need and there is currently no means-testing. The overall funding for Services for Older People in 2017 is €765 million. This includes about €373 million for the direct provision of home care and the HSE’s National Service Plan provides for a target of 10.57 million Home Help Hours, 16,750 Home Care Packages and 190 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for Home Care continues to grow as many more of older people with complex care needs are maintained at home. As well as the demand for additional service levels, the need for services outside of core hours Monday to Friday is also increasing.
The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland, in relation to both regulation and funding. As part of the process the Minister for Health and I launched a public consultation process on 6 July. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers and I strongly urge all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation.