Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Clonan for the way he expressed himself today. We are putting a new tender in place at the moment. It was meant to be in place on 1 January but has now gone out to 1 April. One of the things we are doing, because this was not available for the care of older people previously, is looking at personalised budgets for the first time ever, within the tender. We are also looking at some e-technology supports especially for people with dementia. This is another thing we are exploring. We are trying to think outside the box. Another recommendation of the strategic workforce advisory group was to engage with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. Many people who once worked in home care may be willing to go back to it. However, that might mean they would lose their entitlement to a medical card or social protection. We are trying to see if we can encourage people who worked previously to come back and do more.

In regard to the Senator's specific point about the service level agreement between the HSE and the provider who can be hired, I will certainly raise that with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. It has been raised before. It has been looked at previously. I found that by putting in place the strategic workforce advisory group we set out clear timelines which we reached. Now it is about ensuring that all the asks are not aspirational but that they are put into use. I am hopeful that if 600 or 700 people come in on permits it would almost clear the waiting list. For once it is not an issue in regard to funding. It is an issue relating to staff. I will have a copy of that report for Members this evening.