Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of available home support service carers in County Meath; the number of persons in County Meath who have been approved for home support but whose service has not commenced due to a lack of carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53338/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. The new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
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.
In parallel to this, the Department has committed to establishing a cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders, and examine the evidence regarding the skills and labour market shortage, in home support. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, skills development, and the sustainable employment of home carers into the future. The Department is working to scope and plan for the establishment of this group. It is envisaged that it will include representatives from the home support sector and across relevant Government departments and agencies. It is intended to provide a forum for practical action and collaboration aimed at identifying the issues that are leading to shortages in the sector.
The remainder of your query is a service matter, and I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
