Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he has approved the proposed privatisation of the home help service being undertaken by the Health Service Executive; if he will reverse this privatisation process; if he will require the HSE to engage with union representatives of the home help workers; his views that this move is part of a drive to further reduce wages in a low-wage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10174/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Government policy is to support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as possible. Significant investment has been provided in recent times to the HSE to develop its range of community based services for older people. In some cases, where the service is approved and funded by the HSE, this may be undertaken through partnership arrangements with non-statutory providers to maximise service delivery.

The Department of Health and Children accepts the need for a more standardised approach to the delivery of home care overall, whether by statutory or non-statutory providers. During 2010, the HSE and the Department progressed various improvements to home care provision, particularly relating to the standardisation and governance of services. As part of these improvements, the HSE has initiated a procurement process for HSE home care recipients.

I wish to stress that this is not a policy of privatisation, but a more standardised approach to the existing process in order to regularise the procurement of services nationally. It will also complement the long standing partnership model of the HSE and enhance client safety and quality overall.

The process has been carried out in accordance with relevant EU Guidelines. All tenderers must comply with quality standards set as part of the process, and successful tenderers will be monitored by the HSE to ensure services supplied are in line with the contract and quality measures set.