Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1943. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to introduce a statutory right to home care, as outlined in the programme for Government; the current status of this overdue legislation; if he will introduce the legislation before Christmas 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39254/23]
View answerThe programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: (i) Regulation of home-support providers; (ii) the examination of future funding options for home-support services; (iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; and (iv) implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
Establishing a regulatory framework for home support providers is a significant element of the new scheme and is a priority for government. With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, the regulatory framework will comprise: primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers; regulations which will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a licence; and HIQA national standards.
To assist the development of the legislation and regulations, a public consultation was completed in August 2022 and the analysis of the results by the IPH was published on 20 January 2023:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/56ab1-draft-regulations-for-providers-of-home-support-services-an-overview-of-the-findings-of-the-department-of-healths-public-consultation/.
The department has also engaged in consultation with HIQA, the HSE, legal counsel, and a number of representative groups.
The legislation to establish a licensing framework for providers who operate in the home care sector is at an advanced stage. It is intended to bring this legislation to Cabinet before the end of 2023.
