Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
466. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will fund home care packages on a demand-led basis to reduce the unnecessary suffering and financial costs of delayed discharges from hospital and residential care; if he will quantify these financial costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28592/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraHome care services are critical to allow older people to stay in their own homes for as long as possible and to avoid excessive admissions to acute hospitals. It is clear that the resources available for home supports need to be strengthened and we have committed in the Programme for Government to improving the situation. As a first step, an additional €40 million has been made available for the maintenance and development of home care services to the end of 2016, including €10 million as part of the HSE's Winter Initiative Plan 2016/2017 for an extra 950 Home Care Packages. These will be targeted at 10 specific hospitals over the winter plan period.
The Government is committed to improving the resourcing of home care services as a priority in the period ahead. I am also considering how the service can be optimally structured to meet the needs of clients in as consistent and transparent a way as possible within the resources available at any given time. In this context the Health Research Board has been asked to carry out an evidence review to examine the regulation and funding of home care services in comparable jurisdictions. This should be completed by the end of the year and will inform future decisions about the structure and governance of home care services.
