Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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247. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the engagements he has had with the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to funding proposals for the new HSE Home Support Tender 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24099/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to promoting care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Home support is an increasingly important part of the supports we offer to older people and it will continue to increase in importance into the future, as our ageing population grows. The overall policy intention and provision of services is in line with the Sláintecare strategy. The Home Support Service is funded by Government to deliver a volume of service each year as approved in the HSE National Service Plan which is subject to the annual estimates process.

As is the case for all Government Departments, the 2023 Estimates process involved detailed engagement between my Department and the Department of Health on the overall funding provided to the Health Sector. As part of Budget 2023, the Department of Health made an allocation for the provision of homecare support from within the available additional funding to meet the cost pressures being experienced within that area. The Funding for Home Help Support including home help hours, homecare packages and homecare intensive packages has risen by 58% from €443m in 2019 to €700m in 2023.

Officials in the Department of Health have provided an update for information to my Department on their proposed approach in relation to the new Home Support Tender. However, my Department has no role in the negotiation of the Tender and it is a policy matter for the Minister of Health to manage within the 2023 budget allocation of €24 billion for the Department of Health.

As with other areas of health policy, the Minister for Health has policy responsibility in the first instance for the provision of homecare support. Within this context, the HSE is responsible for developing the Private Home Care Provider Tender with engagement from the Department of Health. Therefore, any further queries in relation to the Home Care Service or the Tender process should be directed to the Minister for Health in the first instance.