Ms Catherine Cox:

The strategy was published in 2012. It was called a cost-neutral strategy because we were in a time of financial crisis. Thus, additional funding was not put to it. Having said that, there were 42 goals within the strategy. Some were realised, most of which were cost neutral, but in the context of the biggest goals, such as respite beds and looking at gaps in respite services throughout the county, things went backwards rather than being improved. We need a new strategy. The key points that need to be included would absolutely be issues around respite, access to respite, where and when a family needs respite and when the person they are caring for needs it. Respite needs to be appropriate, consistent and equitable.

We know there is a crisis in the home care sector but there are things that could be done, especially in improving the terms and conditions for home care workers. We have two tiers at present. First, we have people working for the HSE who are paid well as home care workers. They get a pension and travel payments. Second, we have people working in the private sector or even for voluntary organisations such as ours. While they may get paid a good rate per hour, they do not have those additional terms and conditions, because the HSE does not pass them on to home care package providers. A big part of the problem is that terms and conditions are not good enough to attract people in to the sector.

People also need training. They need to see it is a good place to work and a good job. The role home care workers play in keeping people at home and maintaining independence needs to be recognised as vital, but it is not recognised as such at present. We continue to have a crisis. The next home care package tender is coming up in the next few months. We know regulation is needed, which is happening. There is still no statutory entitlement to home care. That is something we have talked about for many years. It is moving at a very slow pace. We probably will not see such an entitlement until next year. Things could certainly be done in the short term to improve it.

The Deputy mentioned the transport issue. We need a new transport support scheme.