Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ciarán Devane is the chair-designate so it is a him. Senator Lawlor made a number of suggestions about how we can improve the legislation. I particularly like his idea of making sure there are always patient advocates. He also asked whether that provision should be strengthened or if it should feature in legislation. I will reflect on that before Committee Stage. I will also reflect on a number of the Senator's other suggestions in respect of how the board will interact with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, the regional board structures and sub-committees.

On the issue of home care packages, I expect we will be in a position to increase the number of home care packages again in 2019 and, I hope, through the winter period. I am aware of the issue the Senator has brought to my attention regarding demand exceeding supply in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 7. I am also well aware that there is a national issue in this respect and I hope we can make some progress as a result of the extra funding we have received both for the winter and for 2019. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is working hard on trying to develop a statutory home care scheme. This is the big prize which we all work for. Every single one of us will say we want people to be able to grow old with care and dignity in their own homes and communities, yet the only statutory scheme today is the fair deal scheme, which is a scheme to send people to nursing homes. Home care is an ad hocnon-statutory scheme that varies between counties and constituencies. I will support the Minister of State very much in this regard. If we can get to the point where we have a statutory scheme in the coming years, that will be a game-changer in terms of the provision of healthcare.

To return to the legislation, this Bill is a very important step, albeit only a step, in putting in place the appropriate governance structures for the HSE to deliver and oversee the implementation of Sláintecare and the creation of a world class health service. It is also an important step in telling all of the people of Ireland, particularly women, that we are acting upon Dr. Scally's recommendations. One of his key recommendations related to governance, oversight and accountability. We need a competency-based board to achieve this. That is why I am very pleased to commend the Bill to the House.