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Home Care Packages

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2013

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Ceisteanna (210, 211, 212)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

210. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the soon to be published new tender for home care services and with regard to a recently published report quantifying savings of €48 million for 2014 available through more open and transparent commissioning of home care, if he will confirm if he is planning to instruct the Health Service Executive to expand the extent of the tender to include all home care packages and the part of home help hours not done internally by the HSE in order to achieve these savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28182/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

211. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if instead of trying to cut the number of home support hours available as was announced and reversed in the Budget, if he is implementing reforms and efficiencies in tendering and outsourcing that could reduce the cost of the service by 30% as outlined in a recently published report quantifying savings of €48 million for 2014 available through more open and transparent commissioning of home care, thereby increasing the hours that could be delivered under existing budgets; if he will use the current review of the tender process for home care services to realise these savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28183/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

212. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken in realising cost savings and expenditure reduction in the home help and home care package budgets through reform of tender process as outlined in a recently published report quantifying savings of €48 million for 2014 available through more open and transparent commissioning of home care in order to provide services to as many persons as possible; if he will use the current review of the tender process for home care services to realise these savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28184/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.

Recent years have been very challenging for the health services. Facing difficult choices, the Government has set as its priority the aim of maintaining services to the greatest extent possible within the resources available. In line with the Programmme for Government, the Department is working closely with the Health Services Executive on reforming the way health services are funded and delivered to achieve greater productivity and more cost-effective services.

In relation to Home Support Services, I would like to reassure the Deputy that the HSE has committed in its National Service Plan 2013 to maintaining the home help and home care package services at levels planned for in 2012.

The Procurement Process for the Home Care Package Scheme referred to by the Deputy and introduced in 2012 established minimum standard levels with which successful tenderers must comply. The HSE is currently considering its approach to the next home care procurement process and the timing for same. In this regard, it has established a forum to consult with representatives of service providers.

Future tenders for home care will focus on improving standards across the home care sector, providing quality care for vulnerable clients, taking account of existing contracts, and obtaining value for the resources available for the service.

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