Ms Siobhán McArdle:

Home support is a core part of the service we provide in the community to people. In terms of the figures, at the end of April over 1.1 million hours of home support had been provided to people in their own homes across all parts of the country. This is in excess of 41,000 different people receiving home supports. Within that are people with low levels of home support and others with more advanced packages of support. There is a further group of people who receive intensive home care packages, the provision relating to which is in excess of 20 hours per week. Outside of the adult services, we also support home nursing and home care under our paediatric home care package, which is important for families in ensuring that children can transition to home safely and be provided with safe levels of care in that environment.

In terms of the statutory home care package, I am aware that it is under design. There is a lot of work being done by the HSE and our colleagues in the Department of Health in terms of advancing that package. It is a joint initiative. I do not have the details as to where it is at now but I can revert to the Deputy on the matter. My colleagues in the Department have further information.