Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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756. To ask the Minister for Health if the home care scheme will address a person's needs for respite care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35290/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home care services. An important step in this process is the public consultation which I, along with Minister Harris, launched on 6 July. 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. It will also allow us to find out what people think about current home care services as well as the public’s views on what the future scheme should look like. This includes views in relation to the scope of the scheme. The consultation paper is available online at and I encourage all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation.

The findings of the public consultation will be an important input to the process for the development of the new home care scheme. A significant amount of work remains to be undertaken before final decisions are taken on the form of the home care scheme, including decisions on what services will be included in the scheme.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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757. To ask the Minister for Health if a capital respite programme will be put in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35291/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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758. To ask the Minister for Health if there will be increases in funding for respite options (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35292/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 758 together.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability. The Health Service Executive's (HSE’s) Social Care Operational Plan for 2017 aims to provide 182,000 overnight stays in centre-based respite services, in addition to 41,000 day respite sessions. There are 210 new home support/in home respite supports for emergency cases and 185 new emergency residential placements in the 2017 HSE National Service Plan.

The level of any additional respite funding that may be available for my Department will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2018 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.