Monday 10th March 2025
Speaking today, HCCI CEO Joseph Musgrave welcomes Minister for Older Persons Kieran O’ Donnell’s ambitious comments on delivering a statutory right to home care. “We are pleased to hear Minister O’Donnell comments today where he has outlined his determination to implement the Statutory Home Support Scheme. HCCI has been calling for a statutory right to home care for years, however it has been constantly kicked down the road. Outlining his intent to implement the Scheme so early in his term as Minister is promising and we commend him for it. We look forward to working alongside the Minister and the Department of Health to ensure that the Scheme is implemented during this Government’s term.”
The Statutory Home Support Scheme would give people a legal entitlement to home care, (akin to the Fair Deal Scheme for Nursing Homes implemented in 2009) rather than it being allocated on a discretionary or budget-dependent basis. The Scheme would provide a structured, regulated, and transparent system for delivering home care to older and disabled people who have the choice to live independently.
In 2024, HCCI released a progress report examining the reasons behind the delay of the Scheme, which can be read here. The Scheme was deemed “nearly ready” for implementation in 2020; however, progress is slow. The Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment issues, and shifting political priorities are some factors which have delayed the scheme in the past, however, against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing Irish population, it is in the Government’s best interests to implement as soon as possible. HCCI look forward to collaborating with the Government to ensure the schemes rollout.
—ENDS—