Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
752. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the developments to date in the provision of a statutory home scheme as promised in the programme for Government; the number of staff in his Department involved in the development of this scheme; the Civil Service grades of each; the expected timeline for implementation of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35694/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is ongoing to progress the development of the new home support scheme within the broader context of the ongoing reform of our health and social care system, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report. The scheme will provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
Work is ongoing across three workstreams:
(i) Regulation of home-support providers
The Department is currently developing a regulatory framework for home-support providers with the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with high-quality care. This framework will comprise primary legislation for the licensing of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations (minimum requirements), and HIQA national standards.
On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to the Minister for Health to draft a General Scheme and Heads of Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. The Heads of a Bill are at initial draft stage. There are 44 Heads. We are currently receiving legal advice on the wording. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.
Development of regulations and standards are at an advanced stage. The Department has completed a targeted stakeholder consultation on draft regulations (minimum requirements) that will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a license will be determined. Draft regulations for home support providers have been developed by the department and amended following targeted stakeholder consultation. This has been enhanced by regular discussions with HIQA, HSE, Private Providers' representative groups and legal expertise assisting with legal text and interpretation of core issues, such as, capacity legislation, employment laws and health and safety issues. A 6-week public consultation was launched on 16th June. www.gov.ie/en/consultation/81506-public-consultation-on-draft-regulations-for-providers-of-home-support-services/
HIQA have conducted an evidence review on home support which was published on May 30th. HIQA have developed standards for home care and home support services which will be the focus of a public consultation in September. The Department is represented on HIQA advisory group.
A regulatory impact analysis is being undertaken by the Department in 2022 to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.
(ii) Financing of home-support services
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department on the potential demand for, and cost of, home support which culminated in two reports:
Demand for the Home Support Statutory Scheme (30 March 2021).
Home Support Services in Ireland: Exchequer and Distributional Impacts of Funding Options (24 February 2022).
This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population.
An internal consultation process on a range of potential funding options is underway. Targeted external consultation will follow in due course.
(iii) Reformed model of service delivery
The Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for home support is now fully operational. It commenced in November 2021 in CHO 8 and the three other sites CHO2, CHO 4 and CHO 7 became operational in January 2022. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new home support scheme.
Funding has been approved for 128 interRAI care needs facilitators This will help to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs. Recruitment of the Care Needs Facilitator posts will commence with a view to having the posts in place by the end of Q3 2022.
Approval and funding were provided in 2021 for the new National Older Persons Services Offices, that will encompass the National Home Support Office to be located in Tullamore. Funding is provided for 15 full time jobs including 9 Community Healthcare Organisation home support manager/coordinator posts. Recruitment of the Head of Service of the new National Home support Office has been advertised.
There are 9 staff in the Department working on the Statutory Home Support Scheme across the grades of EO to Assistant Secretary.
