Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. There has been much speculation and media attention in recent weeks asserting that there may have been a cut in the funding available for home care. This is not the case and I am glad to have the opportunity to clarify the position.

Home supports enable older people to remain in their own homes and communities and they facilitate discharges from hospital. The Government has made improved access to home support services a priority. Progress is reflected in the additional funding made available in recent years with the budget growing from €306 million in 2015 to almost €446 million in 2019. In 2018, the total budget for the service was €416.8 million, providing 17.5 million hours. This year the HSE intends to provide over 18.2 million home support hours, including intensive home care packages, to over 53,000 people. In 2019, almost €30 million has been added to the home support budget and 800,000 more hours of support will be provided compared to the 2018 target.

Throughout the winter period additional home support was provided supporting early hospital discharge and preventing hospital admission. Almost 1,100 clients nationally were approved for new home supports and 857 packages had commenced by the end of March 2019. Preliminary information for end of April indicates that 52,571 people were in receipt of home support hours. Between January and April approximately 5.8 million hours were delivered, with 5,761 new clients commencing the service. Despite this significant level of provision, demand for home support continues to grow and 6,310 people have been assessed and are awaiting either new or additional services. People on the waiting list are reviewed as funding becomes available to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resources.

The allocation of funding for home supports, though significant, is finite and services must be delivered within the funding available. The level of service provision must be in line with the HSE's budget, delivery plan and the national service plan. To achieve this, the HSE must ensure that the total number of hours provided does not exceed the targeted level of 18.26 million hours. While this may impact on its ability to provide new or additional hours, it is in line with normal prudent management of the budget. It is not correct to say that no new clients will be allocated home supports for the next five months. The allocation of new hours will be based on clients' needs and the resources available.

I acknowledge that in some cases access to the service may take longer than we would like. However, the HSE has assured the Department that people on the waiting list are reviewed as funding becomes available to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resources and as determined by the local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs and who undertake regular reviews of those care needs to ensure that the services being provided remain appropriate.

While the existing home support service is delivering crucial support to many people across the country, it needs to be improved to better meet the changing needs of our citizens. The Department of Health is currently developing plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home support services. The Sláintecare implementation strategy commits to the introduction of the new scheme in 2021.

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