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Home care

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Current

Electoral (Postal Voting) (Carers) Bill 2026

The proposal would let more carers register to vote by post, not just people who are ill or disabled. It would extend postal voting to certain carers and related groups, including people getting carer payments or supports, some people receiving domiciliary care allowance, and some families eligible for carer-related tax credits. It matters because it would make it easier for carers to vote without having to leave the person they support on polling day.
Dáil

Electoral (Postal Voting) (Carers) Bill 2026: First Stage

Deputy Wall introduced a Bill to give family carers eligibility for postal voting, arguing it would improve democratic participation, and the Government did not oppose its first stage.
Seanad

Special classes notification portal

Senator Scahill outlined the NCSE parents-notify portal, explaining the deadlines are meant to help plan special class places and budgets for 2027-28.
Seanad

Community Care

Senator Kelleher sought urgent long-term funding certainty for Westgate Foundation’s Ballincollig day care, meals-on-wheels and sheltered housing services, and the Minister confirmed increased HSE support, ongoing talks and a shared commitment to sustaining them.
Enacted

Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025

Creates a registration and inspection system for home support providers who help older people and people with disabilities in their own homes, with HIQA’s Chief Inspector overseeing it. Providers would have to register, meet safety and quality standards, display their registration, and report key information, while the inspector could inspect premises, issue compliance notices, and take action — including cancelling registration — if standards are not met. It also sets transition rules for existing providers and makes operating without registration an offence.
Current

Adult Safeguarding Strategy Bill 2026

Requires the Minister for Health to draw up a new adult safeguarding strategy within six months of the Act starting, and to renew it every three years. The strategy must set goals and actions to protect adults at risk, cover services such as care homes, hospitals, mental health services, home care, day services, Garda work involving vulnerable people, and similar settings, and may include oversight bodies, advice and advocacy, and court powers to limit harmful contact. Public bodies would have to act in line with the strategy, and the Minister would have to report each year on what has been done, what has not yet been achieved, and why. It matters because it would put adult protection on a regular, public footing and force follow-up, not just planning.
Seanad

Family carers scorecard

Senator Conway outlined Family Carers Ireland's scorecard on the programme for Government, noting mixed progress and several areas of no progress or regression.