Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked me what we were doing about it. I have outlined the problem. A statutory homecare scheme is being designed, the details of which I intend to unveil in January. We have committed under Sláintecare to introduce it in 2021. The scheme will operate along the lines of the fair deal scheme, in that it will be statutorily available when sought.

What we could do for the next 12 months is interfere in the current system and put a band aid on it, but instead we will take the time to devise an entirely new scheme of homecare support that will not have the postcode lottery aspect that bedevils the current scheme. We have done significant work on the issue raised by the Deputy of the availability of staff to deliver the service and also ensuring there will be a regulatory aspect to the service in order that we can regulate and stand over it.