Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all those who presented. My first question is to Professor Eamon O'Shea. He commented clearly that rights and regulations without adequate resources are meaningless and will not create certainty and personalised care. When we ask older people and people with dementia or other care needs what they want, they say they do not want a one-size-fits all solution. They want the kind of care that fits their circumstances and in the case of dementia, that changes. When one gets a diagnosis of dementia, one can be very fit and well. One might need a little bit of help or a reminder to eat, for example, but it can progress. That kind of personalised care needs to change with the person's needs.

I want to hone in on the social insurance model. Given that the Department of Health is now working up its scheme, what advice would Professor O'Shea give us to advise the Department of Health on the resourcing of home care?

Mr. Moran said there is political will for the development of home care but there is still massive unmet need. We heard from the Department of Health earlier that it thinks it might be two to three years before a regulatory regime can be introduced. My husband works for HIQA - not as an inspector - which may be in the frame so I should probably raise that. What would Mr. Moran ask the committee to say to the Department of Health given there is political will and huge unmet need? There is also a sense of urgency so that the two-year to three-year timeframe seems far out.

What would Mr. Hensey ask the committee to deliver to the Department of Health in terms of its ongoing deliberations on home care? What should the top priority be?