Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
731. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce the statutory home care scheme including an annual entitlement to 20 days respite and a carer needs assessment for full-time carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46293/21]
View answerEnabling people with care-needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a priority for the Government. To advance this, the Government is committed to establishing a new, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs. It will build on the HSE’s continual enhancement of existing service-provision and on emerging good practice across the current system of health and social care delivery as well as supporting family and unpaid carers.
Work is on-going within the Department to progress the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery for home support services.
The national roll-out of interRAI as the single assessment tool (incorporating the assessment of carers’ needs) will be integral to the new scheme, underpinning the provision of one streamlined process for responding to the evolving care-needs of the individual, from entry-level home-support through to intensive care in a residential setting. In this regard, funding was allocated for approximately 130 posts to support the national rollout of the InterRAI Ireland system as the standard assessment tool for care needs in the community. The system of regulation will ensure public confidence in the services provided as well as safeguarding service-users.
The Programme for Government commits to delivering a ‘Carers Guarantee’ proposal that will provide a core basket of services to carers across the country, regardless of where they live. This commitment is consistent with the National Carers' Strategy, which seeks to support family carers to care with confidence through the provision of adequate information, training, services and supports.
In line with this commitment, and as a first step towards implementing the Carers’ Guarantee, €2 million was allocated in Budget 2021 to provide a more standard package of supports to family carers in every region, in tandem with the community and voluntary sector. Discussions are underway between my Department and the HSE to determine how this funding will be allocated and to ensure measures introduced will work towards addressing geographical inequity of access to supports.
