Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank each Senator who contributed to this very constructive debate. I also thank the Minister of State for her contribution. A number of important issues were raised. I agree with Senator Swanick on the issue of back-up support at local level, which cuts right across from nursing to general practitioners. As I said in my introductory speech, there was a prediction that by 2021 attendance at GP practices would increase by 33% because there would be many more older people living in the community. I also thank the seconder to the Bill, Senator Hopkins, for her contribution and her help and assistance, and Senator Richmond. Each person who made a contribution made a very constructive one.

We need to face up to a number of issues, one of which is the training of people who want to provide home care. I am not sure if we have a proper structure for that. I take on board what has been said about pay and conditions, but I think the appropriate mechanism for that would come through separate legislation. One cannot make any job attractive unless there is adequate remuneration for the work people do. That is important, and we need to consider that issue as well. I am anxious to reverse what has occurred over recent years whereby, because so much political pressure has been put on ensuring people can get into residential care, we have not considered enough the issue of home care.

I welcome what the Minister of State announced regarding home care packages and the additional funding for 2017, but we must fast-track the process. We must ensure a proper regulatory framework is in place. While I accept that, thanks to everyone involved in this area, from the HSE to the private sector, much progress has been made over a number of years, we still have much more work to do. We still must ensure there is full accountability and that we can guarantee that the supports are there for people looking to stay in their homes. I do not want to be taken up wrongly on the following point, but going back again to the Law Reform Commission report of 2011, these issues should not be parked within Departments. I accept that the Minister of State is genuine on this matter and its progression because I have discussed with her a number of other issues, such as support and the fair deal legislation. I hope this will be brought forward in combined legislation. Subject to the approval of the Minister of State and the House, I propose not to press for the Bill to proceed to Committee Stage at this time. However, we will require some progress from the Minister within the next three months. I will face pressure from my colleagues to bring the issue back for further debate, but three to four months should allow us to get some idea as to the progress being made by the Department.

The Minister of State referred to further studies being carried out. In fairness, the Law Reform Commission in 2011 carried out extensive research on what is happening at both local and international levels. I always get concerned when I hear a Department tell me that it is carrying out further research. Everyone who, like me, has served on a local authority will have had the experience a long time ago of a city or county manager saying he or she must get consultants in to carry out a further report before a decision can be made on a particular matter.The work is done. It is now up to us to bring forward the proper structure and framework for dealing with this issue. We need to do that. I am not proposing that the Bill will go on to Committee Stage at this stage. I reserve my right to reintroduce it over the next three or four months, depending on what report I get back from the Department on the matter.

I thank all the Senators who contributed. The submissions were very constructive and I will take them on board when looking at this issue again. I also thank the Minister of State for being available.