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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Home care support assistants

Summary

Deputy Healy-Rae raised problems with a new online system and mileage issues affecting home care support assistants. The Minister of State stressed the importance of home care, noted many people depend on it, and said she would examine the specific circumstances.

I want to raise the very important issue of our excellent home care support assistants, HCSAs, not least in County Kerry where they do great work taking care of people in their own homes. At the moment, a new system is being set up online to book holidays, do the travel allowance, the wages and all of that. Unfortunately, as the Taoiseach knows, not everybody is 100% up to speed and on iPads, apps and all of that. There seems to be a problem. I previously raised in the House an issue with mileage for the HCSAs and it is causing a big problem at present. Will the Taoiseach make sure that the HSE ensures nobody gets left behind and people are given the support and assistance they need? At the end of the day all they want is their fair wages and their fair mileage to be paid for them in a timely manner. We should assist them because they assist all of our people in their homes.

Comment on this
Mary Butler Minister of State at the Department of Health Fianna Fáil

I thank the Deputy for the question. He is quite right in saying that the provision of home care for people living at home is very important. Today as we stand here, approximately 56,500 people will receive the support of a home care worker. Without these workers they could not age well at home, so they are very important. I might chat to the Deputy offline because I am not sure whether this is specific to community healthcare organisation, CHO, 4, whether it relates to the HSE only or whether it relates also to private home care providers. The Deputy is quite right; we do not want anyone to be left behind. We are very dependent on these healthcare workers who do a phenomenal job every day of the week, so I will speak to the Deputy later.

Comment on this