Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

433. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to give families the choice and supports needed on a statutory basis to allow them keep older relatives at home instead of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39418/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home care services.

The statutory scheme for home care will introduce clear rules in relation to what services individuals are eligible for and how decisions are made on allocating services. For that reason, developing a new statutory scheme will be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home care services. It will also help to improve access to the home care services that people need, in an affordable and sustainable way. The system of regulation for home care will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard.

I along with Minister Harris launched a public consultation on these matters on 6 July. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including home care users, their families, and healthcare workers. The Department wants 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. I encourage all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation which closes on 2 October.

A report of the findings of this consultation process will be published and the findings will be used by the Department in the development of the new home care scheme.

The development of a regulatory and funding model for home care services is a complex undertaking. While the public consultation is an important step in the process of developing the new scheme, a significant amount of additional preparation remains to be carried out before final decisions are taken on the form of home care scheme and system of regulation. This is required if the reforms are to be successful, affordable and sustainable. Every effort will be made to progress this matter as quickly as possible.