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

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to address this issue. It is very real and there is no argument about it from my end, as the Senator is aware. I support his endeavours to have it addressed in a broader context and have a facility for all stakeholders and all those with an interest in and a working knowledge of what is going on in the sector. I have no difficulty in that regard. As the Senator outlined, people are living longer than ever before and success in improving health outcomes and extending life expectancy has been achieved. The projected numbers of older people are stark, to say the least.

The report of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare, Sláintecare, supports a significant shift in the model of care to one that is focused on prevention and early intervention and which will provide most care in the community. It is crucial that the appropriate supports be in place to match each person’s needs at whatever point he or she is at in the interaction with the healthcare system. The Senator is a particular proponent of the policy of prevention, rather than cure, and that we work with people in the community to try to prevent difficulties, but we also know that it is a fact of life that a large population will invariably require long-term nursing care in a residential setting, no matter what efforts we make to avoid this.

The Senator will be aware that the Department is developing a statutory home supports scheme. An important step in the development of the new scheme was a consultation process which was carried out in 2017, the purpose of which was to allow everyone with views on this topic to have his or her say. There was a very high response rate, with approximately 2,600 submissions received. A report on the findings of the consultation process was published last month.

Planning for future services will continue and it will be informed fully by the views and concerns of all stakeholders. However, this is not an issue that can be readily progressed by the kind of forum proposed by the Senator. The decisions that remain to be taken are less about what we need to do but about how to do it. It relates in large part to resourcing and the balancing of priorities within the health sector and government overall. I am pleased to inform the Senator that I will host a conference later this year on housing for older people which will bring together key stakeholders to share best practice and discuss how best to meet the needs of older people.

As the Senator knows, I have a particular interest in addressing the long-term care needs of older people in communities and supported living environments. Notwithstanding this, the Senator's point is valid. I support the validity of his request, to have it considered furthe, that we have a specific forum, but what we do not want is a duplication of fora. We want to ensure we build it in, but I do know from where the Senator is coming. I have heard the case being made before and I am supportive and welcoming of it to ensure we can accommodate more voices at the table. The Senator mentioned some of the stakeholders, including Nursing Homes Ireland and the IMO. The conference we will organise in September, October or November will look at the long-term residential care needs of older people, not specifically in institutionalised settings but more in the community in supported housing. All of the people whom the Senator mentioned will have a role to play and a contribution to make. That will be part of the conversation. As opposed to isolating it to residential care settings, we hope to broaden it out.