Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
276. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the Public Sector Performance Report and figures showing that only 80 of a targeted 235 intensive homecare packages were delivered, he can explain the reason for the 66% shortfall; what measures he and his Department will put in place to ensure that all intensive homecare packages are delivered in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34715/23]
View answer277. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can explain the 66% shortfall where only 80 of 235 targeted homecare packages were delivered (Public Sector Performance Report 2022); what measures the Government intends to take to ensure targets are met in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34716/23]
View answer278. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with reference to the Public Sector Performance Report 2022 and figures showing approximately 40% of target home support house undelivered, what measures the Government will take to ensure targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277 and 278 together.
Improving access to home support is a priority for the Government. Since Budget 2021 we have provided an additional €228 million in funding. In 2023 the overall home care budget is €723 million.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2022 provided for the following: -
• Rollover of the 2021 target levels of service into 2022, inclusive of the additional 5m hours funded in 2021 to 23.67m hours nationally.
• 360,000 hours provided via Intensive Home Care Packages.
• 230,000 hours associated with the roll-out of the pilot Statutory Home Support Scheme, which commenced in late 2021.
Last year almost 20.8 million hours of home support was provided across the country. A further 109,240 hours was provided as part of a pilot testing the Statutory Home Support Scheme. In addition, 219,678 hours were provided from Intensive Home Support Packages to 80 people.
Delivering this enhanced capacity requires substantial recruitment and strategic workforce challenges are in evidence in the sector. In 2022 the Government established a Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants. In October 2022 the Government published the Group’s findings and their implementation has begun. A detailed implementation plan will be published in the coming months. The implementation group will meet quarterly, and progress reports will be published.
As the Deputy’s Questions are operational, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
