Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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2588. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline of the full implementation of the statutory home support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41025/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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2589. To ask the Minister for Health the statutory home support scheme workstream that will be priority after the implementation of the new regulatory framework for home support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41026/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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2591. To ask the Minister for Health if older and disabled people be given a legal entitlement to home care as part of the statutory home support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41028/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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2592. To ask the Minister for Health the funding models for home support are currently being considered for home support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41029/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2588 , 2589 , 2591 and 2592 together.

The Programme for Government commits to "Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible." Work is ongoing within the Department across several areas including: regulation, examining funding options, reforming how home support is delivered and addressing the recruitment and retention challenges within the sector.

The Department is examining potential options for a new funding model for home support and has commissioned research in this area. This research is being examined, as it forms 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. The Capacity Review which is being undertaken by the ESRI is being developed in 2025. This will help to inform the levels of service provision required into the future (out to 2040) and is an essential piece of research for this workstream.No final decisions on future funding have been made. Currently, home support services are fully exchequer funded.

In 2025, the Department of Health is focused on continuing the development and implementation of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services. The aim of which is to ensure that all service users are provided with high-quality, regulated home support services. The new system of regulation for home support will ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard and will bring Ireland in line with best international practice.

The legislation to establish a registration system for home support providers is at an advanced stage. The General Scheme was approved by Government on 14 May 2024 and has been referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting, with a view to presenting the Bill to Cabinet shortly .Addressing the shortage of care workers is a priority. A cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established. The group put forward 16 recommendations to address workforce challenges; implementation of these is underway.

Progress includes the delivery on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers and paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum. In addition, a statutory instrument authorising 2,500 employment permits for homecare workers was agreed. In 2025, implementation will continue.

The Department will also explore options to increase effectiveness of home support. Among initiatives that will be explored is the use of assistive technologies in home support and initiatives to address rural home support provision.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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2590. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expand the roll out of interRAI single assessments for home support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41027/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.