Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the crisis in home care in that packages are being approved but the care is not being provided given the lack of home care workers; the steps he will take to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62091/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am, along with Government as a whole, committed to the development of improved community-based services, shifting care to the home, and offering greater choice for older people. We have prioritised home support services through an additional investment of €150 million in 2021, which has been maintained under Budget 2022.

The HSE National Service Plan for 2021 set a target to provide 24 million hours of home support, which is an increase of 5 million on last year. It is estimated that by the end of October some 17 million hours had been provided to over 54,000 people. This is about 2.5 million more hours compared to the same period last year.

Significant inroads have been achieved in reducing waiting lists for funding approval for new or additional service, reducing the numbers of people waiting for funding approval from over 7,800 in January 2020 to just under 400 by the end of September 2021.This has been achieved through a combination of validation of the waiting list and increased funding.

However, there can be delays between the approval of funding and the actual delivery of home support hours, and the numbers of people in this category have increased steadily this year. This is primarily due to staff capacity issues. At the end of September, there were 4,933 people assessed and waiting for a carer to become available, whereas in January 2020 there were about 1,300 people in this category. Certain areas that are experiencing increased pressures due to staff availability are particularly affected.

Despite the increase, it is important to note that the total number of people waiting for home support across both categories has reduced from over 9,000 at the start of 2020 to approximately 5,300 at the end of September 2021.

The HSE is aware that there are increasing capacity issues across both direct and indirect provision and it continues to advertise on an ongoing basis for Health Care Assistants and recruits as many suitable candidates, where possible. The HSE conducts its recruitment through a variety of channels both locally and nationally.

Due to the nature of Healthcare Support Assistant posts, this recruitment is normally conducted at a very local level and is ongoing continually across the HSE. Approved Home Support Providers also continue to recruit home support workers.

I am committed to establishing a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, career development, and the sustainable employment of home care workers into the future.

A ‘call for submissions’ was issued to relevant national stakeholders on 3rd December 2021, with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 22nd December 2021. The Department's project team will analyse submissions received to inform the setting up of the Group in early 2022.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home care packages awarded in each of the counties in the CHO2 area; and the number of these approved packages in which care is not currently being provided. [62092/21]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home care packages awarded by county; and the number of these approved packages in which care is not currently being provided. [62093/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to make access to QQI level 5 healthcare support as affordable and easy as possible for participants, given the major lack of home care workers. [62094/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Skills Infrastructure provides a robust structure for engagement with sectors on areas of identified skills needs. There are a range of programmes in place to support the home care sector which are delivered across the further education and training sector.

There are currently 89 courses leading to a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 5 Certificate for Healthcare Assistants available nationally through the 16 Education and Training Boards, with 98 courses due to be delivered nationally in 2022. Over 12,735 learners gained the QQI Level 5 qualification during 2020.

The majority of further education and training provision is free of charge or is heavily subsidised. However, learners may be required to pay a ‘course fee’ to cover course expenses such as books, uniforms, student services, professional registration fees and exam fees. These fees are set at local level.

The Governments Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 acknowledges that a significant area of growing skills demand is in the area of healthcare.

The HSE have committed as part of the Governments Action Plan for Apprenticeship to develop a public sector National Framework of Qualification QQI level 5 apprenticeship for the occupation of Healthcare Assistant.

Apprenticeship, in common with other education and training options, can support the widening of a recruitment base, retention of staff and deliver the skills needed once a learner is available and willing to work towards a qualification and the associated work-ready competency which apprenticeship delivers.

I am also committed to establishing a Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group and work led by a dedicated project team in the Department of Health, is currently underway.

The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of home support and nursing home workers into the future. 

Without pre-empting the work of the Group, this may include consideration of access to the QQI Level 5 qualification.

A ‘call for submissions’ issued to relevant national stakeholders on 3rd December 2021, with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 22nd December 2021. The Department's project team will analyse submissions received to inform the setting up of the Group in early 2022.