Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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896. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding training courses generally, and specifically the courses being run by State agencies, for care of the elderly; if there is a general policy and need for specific training for such staff into the future; if it is under the remit of Intreo Offices in Dublin or the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, or if these agencies refer clients to private training agencies; if the specific responsibilities of these two agencies in relation to providing trained care staff for the future will be outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31015/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Intreo refers clients to programmes provided by and on behalf of SOLAS/Education and Training Boards (ETB). The design and specification of these programmes is a matter for SOLAS/ETBs.

The City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) provides courses in healthcare support at level 5 on the national framework of qualifications (NFQ). This course includes Care of the Older Person. It is provided on a full time basis in the Further Education colleges in Marino, Whitehall, Inchicore and Cabra. It also provides a Community Health Services programme in St. Kevin’s College, Crumlin and in Whitehall College. This course also includes Care of the Older Person.

At level 6, CDETB provides for the healthcare programme, Community Health Services and Supervisory Management, a full time programme, delivered in Coláiste Íde in Finglas.

Through its contracted training provision, CDETB also provides for a Healthcare Support Traineeship which includes an element of Care for the Older Person.

The Department of Health is establishing a cross sectoral working group to develop a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning. The establishment of effective education and training strategies for all parts of the health service will form a vital part of the development of this framework.