Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health the regulation and standards that exist in relation to home care/home support services, particularly but not limited to those servicing persons with neurological disabilities or those who have very specific support/care needs; if it is the case that the Health Service Executive is contracting for-profit service providers without any contract being drawn up regarding the specific types of services to be delivered and without any requirement for specifically trained or qualified carers; his plans to regulate and address the issues mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26736/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services, which will be subject to HIQA inspection. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services, and this will be progressed in the context of overall legislative and resource priorities.

I would like to emphasise, however, that statutory regulation or licensing is only one way of improving quality and safety. The HSE is already progressing a range of measures to improve Home Care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote quality and safety. These include a Procurement Framework for Home Care Serviceswith quality and screening requirements which came into effect in 2012 and applies to services procured by the HSE from external providers. The HSE is currently undertaking a review of home care services with a view to improving services generally. The aspects of the question relating to operational matters have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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548. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a separate body or entity that has responsibility for home care/support services; if he is concerned that it appears to be the case that the HSE is contracting outside organisations to provide a service, but seems unable to state the type of service needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26737/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services, which will be subject to HIQA inspection. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services, and this will be progressed in the context of overall legislative and resource priorities.

I would like to emphasise, however, that statutory regulation or licensing is only one way of improving quality and safety. The HSE is already progressing a range of measures to improve Home Care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote quality and safety. These include a Procurement Framework for Home Care Serviceswith quality and screening requirements which came into effect in 2012 and applies to services procured by the HSE from external providers. The HSE is currently undertaking a review of home care services with a view to improving services generally. The aspects of the question relating to operational matters have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.