Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A June 2016 report on home care provision in Ireland by the Irish Association of Social Workers, Age Action Ireland, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and University College Dublin's school of social policy, social work and social justice was a timely study and a welcome contribution to the debate on how best to care for older people. We have heard numerous reports of people finding it difficult to access adequate home care. It is important that we understand why this is the case and what can be done to resolve it. Fianna Fáil is of the view that the funding allocated to enable older people to remain at home not only serves to provide the most comforting and dignified type of care but also offers the best value for money.

In 2015, the HSE estimated that some 2.2 million extra hours of home help and a further 3,500 home care packages for older people are required. Unfortunately, those additional resources were not provided for in the 2016 service plan. The programme for Government includes a commitment to increase home care packages and hours, but we are concerned at the lack of detail as to how that commitment will be delivered. The June 2016 report to which I referred clearly highlights the inconsistencies between the various local health areas when it comes to the availability of home care. That inequality of provision must be addressed as a matter of urgency. It is unacceptable that there are so many inconsistencies in the system, with older people missing out on home care simply because of the area in which they live.

Real progress in meeting the challenge associated with this area of health care provision must be made during the lifetime of this Dáil. Home care is the preferred option for older people and it is well recognised that such provision helps to keep people active in their communities, which in turn brings enormous health benefits. Every Deputy has had people coming into constituency clinics whose situations were transformed after being allocated home help hours and home care packages. It is wonderful to see. We are all agreed that caring for older people in their homes is the best form of care we can provide and the most cost-effective for the State. As Deputy Butler pointed out, it is of particular benefit for patients who suffer with dementia to be cared for in their familiar surroundings and by their own family. I understood that in Cavan-Monaghan, somebody has to die before the staff are made available to care for people at home. Home care hours are allocated but the staff are not there to deliver the package. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure sufficient staff are in place to enable home care packages to be activated and facilitate people to access the service immediately.

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