Community care workers and home carers are essential to Ireland's healthcare system, supporting older people and those with disabilities to live independently at home. Increasing demand means carers are working under tight schedules with limited hours per client. It is essential they have proper training in all areas of elder care and must have good communication skills to support clients and families.

Many carers work through private agencies but oversight varies. This raises concerns about the quality and accountability. There are many issues here: workload, pay, travel expenses, standards of care and absenteeism. We need to reform the community and homecare system. We need to improve working conditions and training regulations and we must standardise the level of care for people being minded at home.

I appreciate Deputy Aird raising this very serious question. I agree with him. Approximately 24 million hours-----

Some 24 million hours have been delivered this year.

-----of home care were delivered last year. This is all the more reason for a proper regulatory framework to govern it. We intend to place this on a statutory footing in terms of home care entitlements and so on. However, training and supports are vital. Quality of healthcare must be at the centre of this and the legislation will be published shortly.