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

I thank Senator Hopkins for raising this very important issue. I know that she has a long held interest in the issue of services for home help and home care packages.

The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Home care is an increasingly important part of the supports that we offer to older people, and will continue to increase in importance in the future. The HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering home and other community-based services for older people. Service is provided on the basis of assessed health care need and there is currently no means testing.

The overall funding for services for older people in 2017 is €765 million. This included approximately €373 million for the direct provision of home care and the HSE's national service plan provides for a target of 10.7 million home help hours, 16,750 home care packages and 190 intensive home care packages for clients with very complex needs.

All applicants for home care in the community health care organisation two, CHO 2, which includes Roscommon, Galway and Mayo, are assessed by a home care forum with clinical and social care professional representation. Home care is allocated to those determined to be of the highest priority, having regard to the available budget. With a budget of €39.5 million, the HSE is providing a significant level of services for the area, and the projected monthly target is 1,254 people to receive a home care package, and that approximately 1.3 million home help hours will be provided by the end of the year. By the end of April the HSE was providing 1,600 packages and 436,000 home help hours. I am pleased to say that all new applicants on the waiting list across CHO 2 as of 31 March 2017 have 2.25 hours of home care per week approved for implementation. The HSE has acknowledged that there are pockets - I accept Senator Hopkins's point - including the Monksland area of Roscommon, where a shortage of carers has impacted the implementation of approved care. The Senator will be aware that arrangements for home care have developed over the years with a significant local focus, and there is considerable variation in accessing services in different parts of the country. It is also accepted that there is a considerable demand for home support services over and above the existing service levels.The Department of Health is engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland. This process will consider the future design of both the funding and regulation systems for these crucial services. An important step in this process is public consultation which I will be launching shortly. The purpose of the consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and health care workers. The Department wants to find out what people think about current home care services and would also like to hear the public's view on what the future scheme should look like. I strongly urge all Senators, especially those in the Seanad with an interest in home care services, to make a submission to the consultation.