Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A key principle underpinning Government policy is to support older people to live in their own home as long as possible.

There will, however, always be people whose needs are best met in a residential care setting or supported housing model. There are 10 Supported Care Homes in Community Healthcare Organisation Area 5 providing accommodation and support services to older people with low to medium dependency levels. The residents cannot be maintained independently at home, but do not yet require 24-hour nursing home care.

The Department of Health engages with the HSE regarding issues raised around funding across the sector, including supported care homes, and is aware that information has recently been provided by the South East Community Health Organisation. Specific funding amounts to provide services under Section 39 of the Health Act are an operational matter and are determined by the HSE based on the services required and budgets available.

I have written to the 10 Supported Care Homes previously and reaffirmed my support for the model of Community Care Homes in the South East that support Older People to live well within their own communities, and that I will continue to advocate on their behalf. Officials within the Department of Health and the HSE in CHO5 are currently exploring further options to provide additional supports to the 10 South East Care Homes and additional communication will issue as soon as possible when an appropriate solution has been reached.

Funding in respect of inflationary cost pressures has also been provided under the once-off inflation fund and temporary inflation payment scheme.

Once-off Inflation Fund

Organisations that meet the criteria set out by the Department of Health for this fund, which includes the supported care homes, will receive a once-off payment in recognition of inflationary cost increases incurred over the course of 2022. Payments are being made to over 1,450 eligible organisations with service arrangements with the HSE. Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/4fd65-health-ministers-announce-81m-in-once-off-funding-for-voluntary-and-community-providers/. Only organisations that meet the criteria for the fund will receive a payment.

The once-off payment is calculated at 3.5% of an eligible organisation’s 2022 annual funding allocation from the HSE. Payments will have a minimum value of €1,000, meaning that all organisations that meet the eligibility criteria for the fund will receive at least this amount in recognition of their increased costs in 2022.

Temporary Inflation Payments Scheme

I strongly encourage all eligible providers, which includes the supported care homes in question, to avail of the €10 million Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme (TIPS) introduced last November which covers up to 75% of year-on-year energy and heating cost increases in private and voluntary nursing homes up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per month per nursing home over the period of July to December 2022 (up to €31,500 per nursing home for 2022). The scheme was since extended to the end of March 2023 and further extension is now being considered.