Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this motion and commend the Regional Group on bringing it forward. There is an awful lot in it, and a lot that needs to be done in relation to home care and the care of our most vulnerable citizens overall. I want to speak first on those who remain on waiting lists in Roscommon and Galway and across the board, both for home care in the first instance and for additional home care where the need is there. It has been said - I think it is something we all agree on - that people want to be cared for at home and want to remain at home. It is the job of government to ensure that everything possible that can be done is done to ensure we facilitate this. Of course, being on a waiting list causes worry and anxiety both for the person in need of care or additional care and for their families. It is huge pressure.

In fairness to the Minister, the budget is there and the hours are there. That is all in order. The issue is home care workers and their pay, terms and conditions. The report from the advisory group is really important and we need to see those recommendations implemented as quickly as possible.

I have raised the issue of home care services in Roscommon in this House many times. I think they really are the blueprint in relation to the living wage, and how they calculate and allow for mileage. I ask the Minister of State to look at that in relation to the new package, which we hope will be put on the table right across the board. Qualifications in home care, including the training and the course, need to be looked at as well. We should also look at the possibility of intertwining that with some of the schemes, such as the community employment scheme, as a way to get people through, train them properly to a high standard and ensure they are in place and able to do the job.

The HIQA report published in December 2021 is one that I have raised in this House. It said that home care services were in dire need of regulation. I welcome the fact that legislation is coming. It is a long time awaited and it is really needed.

To close, I want to reference two points in relation to the motion and what it calls for. The nationwide housing model for older people is something that we really need to look at. The housing with supports project that is ongoing in Inchicore at the moment needs to be rolled out. We need to have a safe space and a community for older people where they can live together but retain their independence.

Lastly, I understand that the meals on wheels delivery service is under review at the moment. Ballinasloe social services provide a meals on wheels service, like many others. They are under significant financial pressure to keep this service going.

If we all acknowledge that a service such as meals on wheels is important and does good work, we need to make sure we fund it adequately to make sure it can continue. This is so important. I hope there has been engagement on jobseekers with the Department of Social Protection and the Minister. Work is ongoing on jobseeker's benefit and it is a perfect opportunity to look at jobseeker's payments in terms of working and moving to the model of hours rather than days. I hope this is being looked at.

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