3547. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current complaints and oversight arrangements for private home support/care agencies who are delivering care to individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61715/26]

State Home Support Services are provided either by directly employed HSE staff or by voluntary and private providers who have formal tender arrangements with the HSE to deliver the services. This procurement arrangement, known as the Authorisation Scheme, contains Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for providers of home support. The KPIs have been developed with reference to the Quality Standards set out in the Tender 2023 Service Specification and providers operate subject to their tender arrangements with the HSE.

The 2025 Programme for Government commits to "Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible." Enabling older people with care needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible, is a priority for the Government and as such it has committed to establishing a new Statutory Scheme for regulation of home support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.

A critical first step has been ensuring that the home support providers are regulated. An important development in the home care sector has been the introduction of the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Act 2026 which introduces for the first time, the registration and regulation by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services of all of public, private and voluntary home support providers in Ireland. The Bill has been approved by Cabinet and was published on 22nd December 2025. It was signed into law by the President on 1st July 2026.

The secondary legislation is at an advanced stage and both regulations and quality standards (developed by HIQA) have been informed by public consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Department will continue to work with HIQA and in consultation with the sector, on the legal drafting of the secondary legislation (the regulations).

The objective of the proposed registration system is to improve the safety and quality of home support services. It will ensure that registered home support providers do not operate below the standard set by Ministerial regulations. The new system of regulation for home support providers 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.