Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Home Care: Discussion

Mr. Damian Ginley:

I agree 100% with the Deputy's comments and observations. Not alone is the hourly rate significantly less for our members in the private, for-profit provides, they do not have access to guaranteed hours, sick pay, a superannuation scheme, maternity pay in a lot of cases, etc. It is, in our view, a race to the bottom in respect of terms and conditions of employment. We would therefore be anxious that, given we now have established terms and conditions, the role and responsibility and the efforts of our workers in providing home care be recognised. That is important. We all have family members involved and have seen the benefits of this care. There should not be a race to the bottom and it should not be a matter of securing hours based on how little the worker is paid. The HSE, the Department of Health and the Government have now established these rates with us through the third-party machinery. Our aim is to maximise those hours available to avoid the scenario to which the Deputy has alluded.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.