Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current state of Tender 23 home-care considerations, given the criticality of home care, and the many people waiting for it; if he will move with alacrity to end any and all delays to Tender 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23731/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The process of developing the new tender is at an advanced stage. Officials in the Department of Health are engaging at a senior level with the HSE and the HSE has ongoing engagements with home care providers in order to progress the new tender as a matter of priority.

The HSE 2018 Tender Framework for the provision of home support services was initially valid for the period 01 September 2018 to 31 December 2020. This was further extended by the HSE at the end of 2022, initially to the end of April 2023. The HSE has proposed a further extension of the contract arrangements to Friday 30 of June, to allow time to finalise tender arrangements.

As a strict communication protocol applies in all phases of the procurement process, it is not possible to further discuss the contents of the tender.