Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the proposer and seconder of this motion for bringing it to the House, as well all the contributors who have taken the time to partake in the debate this evening. I thank the Senators for the opportunity to speak about home care provision and our work in supporting those who live with dementia and their families. I agree with many of the sentiments expressed in the motion and it largely reflects work that is well under way and ongoing in the Department. 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 and community supports are a key mechanism for enabling older people and indeed, people with dementia, irrespective of their age, to do this and for facilitating their discharge from acute hospitals. The Government’s priority is to ensure that our older population is looked after, supported and protected.

We are living longer than ever before, and thankfully the signs are that this trend will continue into the future. This is something to be celebrated and embraced. We must also be cognisant of the fact, however, that our ageing population brings about challenges across a wide range of areas. We know that there are currently about 55,000 people living with dementia in the Republic of Ireland. Approximately 4,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. The prevalence of dementia is set to increase as our population ages, and the challenge facing us is to support those who develop dementia and their families as much as we can.Although it is not the only support, a major aspect of the support provided to our older population and to those living with dementia is through the provision of home care services.

This year the overall funding for services for older people is €765 million. This includes about €367 million for the direct provision of home care. A further €9 million supported by HSE and Atlantic Philanthropies will provide intensive home care packages for people with more complex needs. The HSE’s national service plan provides for a target of 10.57 million home help hours, 16,750 home care packages and 190 intensive home care packages.

Arrangements for home care have developed over the years with a significant local focus and there is variation in access to services in different parts of the country. It is also accepted that there is considerable demand for home support services over and above existing service levels. The programme for partnership Government includes commitments to increase funding for home support services; to improve these supports; to introduce a uniform home care service so all recipients can receive a quality support, seven days per week, where possible; and to review the management, operation and funding of national home-help services. I am committed to following through on all of these matters.

Another important step in the process is a public consultation process which I will be launching shortly. This consultation will allow all those who have views on home care to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers. This consultation will help us find out what people think about current home care services and enable people to give their views on what the future scheme should look like. The development of a statutory home care scheme is an important step and the concerns raised in this Private Members' motion form part of the examination of the future scheme.

I will now address some of the specific queries which were asked earlier. I hope I will do them justice. Senator Devine asked specifically about the capacity Bill. The decision support service office is currently advertising. That needs to be set up but work is ongoing before it can be fully commenced. Progress is being made. It is a complicated area because a number of different Bills are impacted by it. I am happy to discuss it with the Senator afterwards. I share her ambition to see the capacity Bill through, but there are a number of complications in the background that mean it is taking more time than we would wish. I am happy to discuss that in further detail with her.

A number of Members asked about the home care consultation. I wish to confirm that I will undertake to have that consultation launched within a week of being here. Senators will appreciate that I am only a week in office and I am trying to find my feet and get on top of all these issues, but this is something I really want to commit to and am anxious to get it up and running and into statute. We need the consultation and I will launch it within a week. I take on board Senators' observations on the need to keep it sharp, focused and effective and that it should not be let run on and on. I will bear that in mind.

I think I answered Senator Kelleher's question about intensive home care packages in the course of my remarks. Senator Colm Burke made a good point about rural areas and staff. It is a challenge I am well aware of from my own constituency. It is not merely resources but also having people available to provide the service. I take on board his comments about quality employment for these people. It is important that we get it right. The fair deal scheme, for good or ill, is a good scheme and works well. If we can replicate that and mirror it with a scheme similar in quality, which serves all people, including employers, the people who benefit from it and their families. It is worth getting it right but I do not want that to become an excuse for delay and making the process longer than it is.