Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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122. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase investment in home care and home care packages in order that those that choose to be cared for at home will have adequate supports; his further plans to introduce legislation ensuring a legislative right to homecare in circumstances in which it is necessary and is the best option in terms of patient outcome and choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27448/19]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Improving access to home support remains a priority for Government. Over the past four years we have seen a considerable increase of nearly €140 million in the budget which has grown from €306 million in 2015 to almost €446 million this year. In 2019, the HSE intends to provide 17.9 million home support hours to 53,000 people and intensive home care packages to 235 people, equating to a further 0.36m hours. 

Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for home support continues to grow. The allocation of funding for home supports across the system, though significant, is finite and services must be delivered within the funding available. The HSE is required to deliver the service within the available budget, and this means ensuring the hours allocated to the service are affordable. This requires the HSE to manage the budget and service provision throughout the year to ensure a balanced budget for 2019.  

The development of a new, standalone statutory scheme and system of regulation for home-support services is a long-standing objective of the Government.  This is currently progressing in line with the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy which commits to the introduction of the new scheme in 2021. It is intended that the new statutory scheme will improve access to adult home support services on an affordable and sustainable basis while the introduction of a system of regulation will ensure public confidence in these services. 

Building on a review of the home care systems in 4 EU countries which was published in April 2017, the Department is currently engaged in a review of the policy goals, objectives and guiding principles of adult home support service provision in ten countries. This review will assist in identifying international good practices, the learning from which will be incorporated into the development of the new statutory scheme.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for introducing a statutory right to home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/19]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health is currently engaged in the development of a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home-support services. In preparation for the development of the statutory scheme, the Department commissioned the Health Research Board to carry out a review of the home-care systems in four European countries. In addition, the Department conducted a public consultation on home-care services, on which a report was published in 2018. These reports are available on the Department’s website and will help to ensure that the new scheme is informed both by international experience and by the views of stakeholders, including service-users.

Work is currently being progressed in relation to a review of the management, operation and funding of current home care services in Ireland. This will provide a baseline for the design of an effective, sustainable service as part of the development of a statutory home care scheme. This review, which will be completed by the end of the year, will provide a baseline for the design of an effective, sustainable service as part of the development of a statutory homecare scheme.

 Work is on-going to determine the optimal approach to the development of the statutory scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. The Department’s Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of the statutory scheme in 2021. In 2019 work will focus on the design of the scheme, the options for regulation and a review of existing services. Further consultation will also be undertaken in 2019 (with key stakeholders and service-users) and will continue throughout the process of developing the new scheme.