David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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635. To ask the Minister for Health to set out a timeframe for the implementation and delivery of the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35356/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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636. To ask the Minister for Health to outline when a heads of Bill will be completed to enable the introduction of the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35357/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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639. To ask the Minister for Health if any work has been done to hire InterRAI assessors in the context of preparing for the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35360/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 635, 636 and 639 together.

The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.

Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.

With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.

In April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. A regulatory impact analysis by the Department to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks has commenced.

In collaboration with HIQA and in consultation with the Health Service Executive and other key informants, the Department developed draft regulations and a targeted stakeholder consultation was undertaken in January 2022. A 6-week public consultation was launched on June 16th in association with the Institute of Public Health (IPA) who will assist with survey testing, data analysis and reporting. A report on the findings of the public consultation will be prepared by the IPA for the Department of Health.  Evaluating the survey feedback and the IPA report on the consultation will inform amendments in the draft regulations.

On 24th February, the ESRI published a report on the demand for and cost of home support. This is the final output from a programme of research that the ESRI has undertaken to support the Department of Health to progress the development of the new home support scheme.  This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population.  Government approval will be sought in due course on any proposed legislation to provide for a financial support scheme, taking into consideration the cost associated with the various options.

In addition, work is ongoing in relation to the development of a reformed model of service delivery for the new scheme. As part of this a home support pilot using interRAI assessments is underway in 4 pilot areas (East Westmeath in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 8; Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea in CHO 2; Bandon, Kinsale and Carrigaline in CHO 4; and Ballyfermot and Palmerstown in CHO 7). InterRAI assessments will assist in the delivery of a standardised approach to care planning and supports the objective of maintaining clients in the community.

On June 28th the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler announced the recruitment of 128 interRAI care needs facilitators with a view to having the posts in place by the end of Q3 2022. This will help to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new statutory home-support scheme. 

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the work of the pilots rolled out on home support schemes as part of the preparation for a statutory scheme; if the pilots have been extended; if so, the duration of the extension; the cost of rolling out the pilots to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35358/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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638. To ask the Minister for Health when the national home support office will be established; the cost of establishing the office; if this cost is already provided for in baseline funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35359/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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640. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress of the tensor for the home care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35361/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.