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

Statutory home care scheme

Summary

Deputy Hourigan sought an update on the promised right to home care for older people who want to remain at home. The Minister said care spending is already being used across home care and related supports, and that work on the statutory scheme is ongoing.

As was alluded to, most of us in politics have spent the last few weeks discussing care, people's right to care, how we care for our families and how we care in the home. Can we get an update in that regard, in light of the fact that a very large portion and majority of older people would like to stay in their homes for as long as possible? The programme for Government made a commitment to a statutory right to home care.

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

I thank the Deputy very much for her question. We have been speaking about care all this week. I was only saying to the Tánaiste last night that of my budget for older people and mental health, which is €3.9 billion, every single cent of it is spent on care. There is home care, day care, meals on wheels and supporting people to age in place and in nursing homes and there are those with enduring mental health conditions and those with challenges in relation to their mental health.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific question on a statutory home care scheme, there are a couple of elements we need to do. Funding has been provided to hire 126 interRAI advisers but, unfortunately, there is an unintended consequence, because many public health nurses are applying for those posts, so we are seeing gaps there. The other piece is the legislative one, which I am delighted to say we are moving on at the moment. I hope to bring in the legislative piece in the next session, because it is important that we have standards for home care. I have had a word with the Chief Whip in relation to that and it will be in the next session.

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