Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I had a meeting recently with care home representatives in my constituency. I was joined by Deputy Funchion, who apologises for being unable to attend the debate this morning. I will outline the issues raised with us by the people to whom we spoke. Their biggest concern is that care homes do not get the same supports as those available to HSE-funded nursing homes. This is because the fair deal scheme covers only long-tern nursing home care. It is important to note that the south east is the only area in the country in which there are care homes. This is an unusual situation, and we are lucky to have these facilities in the region. However, the current situation creates a gap in funding for the homes and increased costs for residents. It is causing a range of problems in general. From speaking to the people involved in the different homes, it is clear there are huge challenges now that were not seen before.

I welcome the announcement this week of once-off funding of €635,000 to assist vital voluntary and community health service providers in Carlow with energy inflation costs. Among the section 39 groups that received some of this funding are Holy Angels Day Care Centre, BEAM Services, St. Laserian's House and St. Fiacc's House. This funding will help towards meeting the increased costs that have arisen. These community-based, voluntary health and social care providers play a vital role locally in providing front-line services to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

It is important that they are not just supported with once-off funding during these challenging times. They will continue to struggle beyond the current energy crisis. I know I have the support of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on this issue. Care homes fall under the remit of different areas. I have spoken to her about the situation at St. Laserian's House and St. Fiacc's House in Carlow. Management staff at those facilities were told, following a HIQA request, that they could apply to the local authority for bathroom adaptation grants. However, they were subsequently told that they could not apply for them. That needs to be looked at. This issue does not come not under the Minister of State's remit but I know she will support me on it. It is hard for care homes to find all the extra funding they need.

It was great to see €35 million being allocated for nursing homes, but I was a little taken aback regarding what is happening with the €81,000 that is being divided between ten nursing homes, including some in the Minister of State's area. The care homes in the south east provide excellent community-based care. For many of the residents I speak to, the facilities are like a home away from home. The Minister of State knows this because she also visits them regularly. If they cannot be funded under the fair deal scheme, can we look at whether they might qualify for local authority grants, including adaptation grants and older persons' grants? I ask the Minister of State to join me in again speaking to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about this issue. Following inspections, these facilities are faced with big bills to meet compliance requirements, including provision of extra bathrooms and increased staffing levels. They are really feeling the cost of things right now.

Another important issue is that many of the services rely heavily on volunteers. Those volunteers go out bag-packing to raise funds and run draws, raffles and events. The services are really dependent on their volunteers. They are also reliant on community employment scheme participants to service the facilities. I am concerned about their funding and capacity. They do a really good job but facilities that rely on community employment scheme participants are having a massive issue recruiting for their vacancies, which must be urgently addressed. I know the Minister of State is aware of the ongoing issues around pay and conditions in respect of community employment schemes.

I have raised a lot of issues. I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter.

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