232. Deputy Maria Bailey asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposals and timelines for the regulation of home and community care services for older persons. [51111/18]

The Department of Health is currently engaged in the development of a new statutory scheme and system of regulation of adult home-support services. In preparation for the development of the regulatory system, the Department commissioned the Health Research Board to carry-out a review of the home-care systems in four countries.

The Department also undertook a public consultation process to which respondents offered views on the importance of regulation of these services and how such a system should operate. These reports are published on the Department’s website and will help to ensure that the new system of regulation will be informed by both international experience and the views of stakeholders, including service users. Work is ongoing on the most appropriate statutory homecare scheme in line with the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy which committed to its introduction in 2021.