Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
654. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the membership of the reference group of stakeholders that will help inform the work of the Commission on Care for Older People; how persons and interested service providers and representative bodies will feed into the work of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18895/24]
View answerIn fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department.
The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. Collectively the members of the Commission provide expertise across the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, health economics, health policy and management, primary care, health ethics, health technologies, and ageing and disability, as well as representation of the community and voluntary sector and of older people.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a Cross-Departmental Group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports.
The inaugural meeting of the Commission was held on 21st March 2024 and the second meeting was convened on 26th April 2024.
Engagement and collaboration with stakeholders will be a central component of the work of the Commission. In addition, a Reference Group comprised of non-governmental and civil society organisations and other key stakeholders working in the area, including those with lived experience, is being formed. The Reference Group will engage in an advisory capacity with the Commission and subsequently with the Cross-Department Group which will be established under its auspices. The Reference Group will not make recommendations or have any decision-making authority.
At the inaugural meeting of the Commission, Catherine McGuigan (Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland) was invited by the Chair to draft terms of reference for the Reference Group. At the second meeting of the Commission, these terms of reference were approved by Commission members subject to minor amendments.
As per the approved terms of reference, the Reference Group will be chaired by Catherine McGuigan and will be supported by a secretariat from Age Friendly Ireland. Participation in the Reference Group will be by invitation only, with invitations to be extended to a range of organisations, including, inter alia, non-governmental organisations, community and voluntary bodies, and representatives of service-providers and carers.
The work of the Reference Group will be advanced through bi-annual national plenary meetings and thematic focus groups. The agendas for the national plenary meetings and thematic focus groups will be developed by the Chair of the Reference Group in consultation with the Chair of the Commission. Written reports on these meetings and focus groups will be submitted to Commission members to inform their deliberations.
