Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Approval and funding was provided in 2021 for the new national older persons services offices, encompassing the national home support office to be located in Tullamore, County Offaly. The development of a national office for home support will streamline existing structures, providing enhanced management and administration of home support services.

The HSE has advised that work is ongoing to open the office. Refurbishment works are needed and HSE estates has appointed a project manager to oversee this work. The expected timeframe for completion of works and signed lease agreement is quarter two, 2022.

Funding has been provided for 15 full-time jobs, including nine CHO home support manager or co-ordinator posts. The national home support office will ensure a centralised team is in place to assist with the delivery of home support services in anticipation of the statutory home support scheme. The functions of the office will include the development of the structures and processes through which the new statutory scheme will be delivered, including a prioritisation framework for service allocation and active management of waiting list for services. The office will also monitor demand for the scheme at a national level to ensure the capacity of the scheme is sufficient to meet current and future demand, develop a standardised training model for the statutory scheme, and act as the central point for applications for home support services.

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