Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1095. To ask the Minister for Health when the Single Assessment Tool for older persons services will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34936/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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One of the key priorities identified in the HSE's National Operational Plan 2013 is to progress a Single Assessment Tool for older people. This standardised framework will allow resources to be targeted towards those with the greatest needs and enable supports and services to be designed in the most appropriate way possible.

The HSE has selected the interRAI suite of tools as the most fit-for-purpose single assessment tool for older people. The HSE has established a Project Board to provide strategic direction and manage the project. The HSE is currently carrying out a procurement process for the technology required to support the implementation of the tool.

Next steps include acceptance testing, deployment to early adopters, further testing and deployment to the remainder of users on a phased basis. It is expected that the tool will be fully rolled out by end-2016.