Health Services Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Ceisteanna (1690)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

1690. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being experienced by homecare providers contracted by the HSE in sourcing care workers and the lack of persons coming through as care workers; if he has considered barriers which may be preventing persons from taking up a caring course due to cost; if he will consider providing grants to support persons in entering this area given the demand for homecare and the growing need that is there and will increase in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34928/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.

As part of this work, the Department is examining the potential demand and cost of introducing such a scheme. Following this, work will be undertaken to examine the associated workforce requirements for the introduction of such a scheme and my Department will engage with other sectors as required in this regard.