80. Deputy James Reilly Information asked the Minister for Health and Children Information if she will regulate public and private home care providers to ensure that home care services are registered and inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority so that services reach a high standard and vulnerable people are offered the best care and protection within their home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39589/09] Minister of State at the Department of the Health and Children (Deputy Áine Brady): Information Zoom Two priorities of the Department in recent times have been the introduction of the nursing homes support scheme, and bringing into force new regulatory standards for the long-term residential care sector. In tandem with these initiatives in the residential care sector, the Department has been progressing initiatives on the community side and, as part of this, commissioned anndependent evaluation of home care packages which will be formally submitted to the Minister shortly.

The aim of the evaluation was to assess whether the objectives of the home care package initiative are being met, and this evaluation is a commitment in the Towards 2016 Agreement. In addition, two other reports on home care were recently completed. A report was undertaken by the National Economic and Social Forum, NESF, on home care packages. It acknowledges that while this was a well thought-out policy, improvements are required in several areas regarding implementation, including training and vetting of staff. A recent consultation paper by the Law Reform Commission entitled “Legal Aspects of Carers” considers the legal issues surrounding home care.

This makes a number of provisional recommendations in the area of standards and regulations generally, including vetting, training and supervision. It also provisionally recommends giving a function to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, in professional home care. Any such changes would require primary legislation and detailed stakeholder consultations.

The Department accepts the need for a more standardised approach to the regulation of home care generally, whether by public or private provision. In the context of the independent evaluation of home care packages, and the other recent reports, the Department is, in conjunction with the HSE as appropriate, considering issues such as: finalising and agreeingstandardised access and operational guidelines for delivery of home care packages; adoption and dissemination by the HSE of a voluntary code of quality guidelines for home care support services for older people; and consideration of the Law Reform Commission recommendations in the context of possible changes to legislation and regulation in the area of home care for older persons generally

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: InformationZoomThe Deputy must ask a
question.

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomTá sé ag teacht. It is important
to put this in context.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: InformationZoomIt is not in order to read
from a report during Question Time.

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomThat is fine. I can make a free
speech with no problem.

It is not a question of an evaluation report. It is a question of
putting in place real protection for the elderly and vulnerable in our
society. We have read stories in the press of people being relieved of
money to pay for petrol; being asked for loans. A whole array of
things is going on. I have met some of the people delivering home care
and they are also very unhappy. The HSE is providing these services
but not inspecting them. The history of the HSE in residential care
leaves much to be desired and requires to be inspected by an
independent body such as HIQA. When will these inspections, the
regulatory body and the standards be put in place so that the most
vulnerable in our society are protected and the taxpayer gets value
for money?

Deputy Áine Brady: InformationZoomThis initiative is only three years
old. That is why my Department commissioned this review. We expected
that it would pick up problems. The two reports that I have read, by
the NESF and the Law Reform Commission, suggest that two key issues
arise, the need for standardisation of access and operations across
the HSE and the need for vetting and training and supervision. We have
drawn up draft standards, quality guidelines for home care support. We
will examine these in consultation with all private, public and
voluntary providers to bring them in as policy as early as possible in
the new year. Meanwhile, we are examining the recommendations of the
Law Reform Commission to bring in primary legislation.

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomWhen will we have an independent
inspectorate to enforce these standards?

Deputy Áine Brady: InformationZoomHIQA inspections will be part of the
legislation that we will draw up. First we must bring in the voluntary
code which includes vetting, training and supervision.

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomI do not understand why we have to
wait for a code. Is this legislation on the legislative clár?

Deputy Áine Brady: InformationZoomNo. It will be prepared. The focus
has been on the residential care—–

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomWhen can we expect to have an
inspectorate?

Deputy Áine Brady: InformationZoomThe voluntary codes have been drawn
up but they must be examined and we have to have consultation.

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/images/clock3.gif3 o’clock

Deputy James Reilly: InformationZoomThe Minister of State cannot tell
us then.

Deputy Alan Shatter: InformationZoomOn that basis it will be another
ten years until we see the legislation.