Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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474. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to review existing home care package scheme with a view to expanding delivery of the scheme beyond HSE approved providers (details supplied); the detail of the benefits persons are actually receiving from their allocated approved provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25734/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to promoting care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. In this regard, the Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland. This process will consider the future design of both the funding and regulation systems for these crucial services.

As an initial step, the Department recently published an evidence review, undertaken by the Health Research Board, of the home care systems that are in place in four other European countries. The Review will help us to learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions and will inform the debate and future consideration of approaches to formal home care financing and regulation here in Ireland.

Another important step in this process is a public consultation which I will be launching shortly. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers. I strongly urge all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation.

The benefits that individuals receive from their allocated provider will differ from person to person.