Response to Government plans to reform rules on non-EEA workers from Home and Community Care Ireland

Response to Government plans to reform rules on non-EEA workers from Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) – 28 September 2018

Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI), the representative organisation for private home care providers in Ireland, welcomes today’s findings from Ireland’s Economic Migration Policy and plans to reform employment permits for non-EEA workers.

Currently in Ireland, over 30% of carers are foreign nationals.  Every 15 minutes someone in Ireland turns 65 and every 30 minutes someone turns 80. It is estimated that there are 6,500 on the HSE waiting list for home care services.

Joseph Musgrave, CEO, Home and Community Care Ireland said: “HCCI welcomes today’s announcement and comments from the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys that these reforms will enable Ireland to keep pace with evolving enterprise requirements. However, more needs to be done for home care. We project that an extra 15,000-25,000 carers will be needed in Ireland over the next decade. We should look at moving non-EEA carers onto the Eligible List of jobs and granting a special social welfare status to care workers.

“I would be delighted to work with the Minister, Government and the HSE to get this reform working for home care.”

According to an ERSI report, Projections of Demand for Healthcare In Ireland 2015–2030, demand for home care will increase by 50% in the next 11 years. Today’s announcement is a small step towards dealing with these increased demands for home care, but more action is needed.

HCCI has over 70 member companies and franchisees, employing 12,000 carers for over 20,000 clients. The organisation advocates for the highest standard of regulated home care service to be made available to all on a statutory basis enabling the elderly, or people with disabilities, to remain independent within their homes and communities for as long as possible.