Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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578. To ask the Minister for Health the number of assisted living facilities in operation by county and community healthcare organisation; the number of beds available in each county; the occupancy level as a percentage; if there are additional facilities planned; if so, the location of these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35470/18]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications for assisted living facilities for those diagnosed with dementia and or Alzheimer's; the number of applications granted; the number of applications by persons that have not been diagnosed with dementia and or Alzheimer's; and the number of applications granted in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018. [35471/18]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together.

Assisted living in Ireland is generally taken to refer to a form of sheltered housing where the residents have low dependency levels and are able to live for the most part independently, unlike nursing homes whose residents have been assessed as requiring full nursing care.   

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority established to drive high quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 HIQA have maintained a register of all nursing homes whether public or private.  This can be accessed through the HIQA website.  All nursing homes are expected to provide person-centred, safe and effective services for all residents, including those with dementia.  

Sheltered housing developments for older people are not required to register with HIQA, do not come within the remit of the Minister for Health, and the Department of Health is not therefore in a position to supply the details regarding numbers and occupancy levels requested.  

The Government intends to establish a new stand-alone statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services.  The Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to progress this.  The statutory scheme for home support will introduce clear rules in relation to the services for which individuals are eligible and in relation to how decisions are made on allocating services. It will therefore be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home support services. It will also help to improve access to services, in an affordable and sustainable way. The system of regulation for home support will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided, whether they are living in their own home or they living in a form of sheltered accommodation are of a high standard.  In the meantime, the HSE has taken steps to improve the quality of Home Support Services provided by it, whether directly or indirectly.  

The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), is currently exploring policy options including supporting housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of housing options and choices available to them. A cross Department/Agency steering group chaired by the DHPLG and comprising the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Housing Agency and other key stakeholders was established in 2017 to consider the issues and provide guidance on drafting a joint policy statement on housing options for older people. The draft statement is currently being finalised.  

This will be a first step in the broader process of seeking to provide older people with appropriate accommodation options that are suited to their needs. The policy statement will set out a framework by which the Government can facilitate housing, including housing with care, for older people having regard to current demographics and looking at best practice models. The aim is to ensure that people can grow old and live in a community of their choosing, with dignity and independence.  

In November I intend to host a joint expert conference on housing for older people, together with the Minister of State with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal. The conference will identify and discuss a range of issues including opportunities, barriers and enablers to guide future development of housing and support needs for older people.