Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
105. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours being provided in each LHO area in CHO7 in 2022; the way that this compares for each of the LHO areas in 2019; the number of persons currently awaiting home care in each LHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall Budget for Home Support is over 670 million euro. This includes the 150 million I secured in Budget 2021.
In 2022, our aim is to provide 23.67 million hours of home support. This represents about 5.8 million more hours than the 2019 service plan target. This is an increase of over 30%.
The target for CHO 7 is to provide about 2.9 million hours, about 730,000 hours above 2019’s target.
At the end of May preliminary data shows that 55,392 people were receiving home support. Over 8.7 million hours has been delivered year to date.
In CHO 7, 6,253 people were receiving home support and 912,000 hours had been provided. There were 600 people waiting for the service, compared to 1,622 in December 2019.
The number of home support hours in communities is increasing, in line with enhanced investment. Delivering this enhanced capacity requires substantial recruitment. This has been affected due to the strategic workforce challenges in the sector.
I have established an Advisory Group to identify the specific obstacles to recruiting carers. The Group is committed to providing me with a set of recommendations by September.
The HSE continues to advertise for Health Care Assistants. In my ongoing engagements with the Chief Officers, I have recommended that they consider a renewed focus in advertising these positions locally.
