The overall Budget for Home Support is over €670 million. This includes the €150 million I secured in Budget 2021 to progress the development of a reformed model of service delivery to underpin the statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services and to provide 5 million additional hours of home support.
In 2021 some 20.4 million hours was provided to over 55,000 people. This is about 2.9 million more hours compared to 2020, an increase of 17%. In 2022, our aim is to provide 23.67 million hours of home support.
At the end of May preliminary data shows that 55,392 people were receiving home support and over 8.7 million hours has been delivered year to date. The preliminary data also shows significant inroads have been achieved in reducing waiting lists for funding approval for new or additional service from over 7,800 in January 2020 to 348 in May 2022. This reduction has been achieved through a combination of validation of the waiting list and availability of additional funding to address those waiting. However, there can be a lag between funding approval and the actual delivery of home support hours. Certain geographical areas that are experiencing increased pressures due to staff availability are particularly affected.
At the end of May provisional information shows that there were 4,720 people assessed and approved for Home Support but were awaiting a carer to be assigned. In January 2020, there was about 1,300 people in this category. Despite the increase, it is important to note that the total number of people waiting for home support across both categories has reduced from over 9,000 at the start of 2020 to 5,068 at the end of May 2022.
The number of home support hours in communities is increasing, in line with enhanced investment. Delivering this enhanced capacity requires substantial recruitment. This has been affected due to the strategic workforce challenges in the sector.
I have established an Advisory Group to identify the specific obstacles to recruiting carers. The Group is committed to providing me with a set of recommendations by September.
The HSE continues to advertise for Health Care Assistants. In my ongoing engagements with the Chief Officers I have recommended that they consider a renewed focus in advertising these positions locally.
