Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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581. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the expected timelines on the establishment of a new statutory home support scheme; how he plans to scope and plan for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2472/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits 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".

In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on developing the regulatory framework for providers of home support services. It aims to ensure that all service users are provided with regulated care. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: (i) Regulation of home support providers; (iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; (iv) Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.

(i) Regulation of home-support providers

In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on developing the regulatory framework for providers of home support services. It aims to ensure that all service users are provided with regulated care. It will consist of primary legislation, regulations and HIQA national standards. This work is at an advanced stage, with ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and legal advisors.

The primary legislation provides for the licensing of home support providers. Transitional timelines are being finalised for the registration of home support providers under this framework. Further details will be available following the expected publication of the General Scheme in Q1 2024.

The regulations will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license. Final revisions are being made to the draft regulations, informed by a public consultation.

Finally, the draft HIQA standards for home support will go out for public consultation in 2024.

(ii) the examination of future funding options for home-support services.

Currently, home support services are fully exchequer funded. How home support will be funded in the future will be an essential factor of the new Statutory Scheme. With this in mind the Department is researching different funding models. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) also undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department on the potential demand and cost of home support which culminated in two reports:

www.esri.ie/publications/demand-for-the-statutory-home-care-scheme

www.esri.ie/publications/home-support-services-in-ireland-exchequer-and-distributional-impacts-of-funding

A rapid response from the European Observatory on Health Systems was commissioned and published in March of this year.

eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/improving-home-care-sustainability-in-ireland-are-user-charges-a-promising-option

This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home care services. No final decision on future funding has been made and further research is currently underway to enhance the evidence base.

(iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support

In 2022 a Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for homecare became fully operational in 4 Community Healthcare Organisations. Evaluation of the pilot has been completed.

The national rollout of interRAI as the new standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community is underway. The HSE is in the process of establishing of a National Home Support Office. Four WTEs, including the Head of Service of the new National Home support Office, have been appointed.

(iv) Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.

Addressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland is an urgent priority. In March 2022, Minister Butler established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants. It set out to examine the challenges in front line carer roles in the home support and long-term residential care sectors.

The report was published on 15 October 2022:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/492bc-report-of-the-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-health-care-assistants/I

Implementation of the 16 recommendations is underway by a cross departmental group, chaired by the Department of Health. The group meets quarterly and publishes progress reports thereafter. The next meeting is scheduled for February 1^st. The most recent progress report was published in October 2023 which can be viewed below:

www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/275876/c0889fbf-3f9c-4235-9e79-e1240790fac7.pdf#page=null