Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025: Second Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-20
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Kieran O'Donnell (FG), Limerick City

I thank the Members for their contributions. There were 27 contributors in total and they spoke on a range of aspects of this issue. I welcome the general support for the Bill in terms of regulation. To recap, the objective of the proposed legislation is to improve the safety and quality of support services by ensuring that registered home support providers do not operate below the standards set by ministerial regulations and that those regulations are provided in a consistent and systematic way. Before getting a registration, providers must satisfy the chief inspector of social services that they can comply with these regulations and other requirements under the legislation.
In the limited time I have, I want to go through a number of the points that were raised by TDs. Deputy Newsome Drennan brought up a number of points. I want to deal with family carers. Deputy John McGuinness referenced this and brought it up last week. The Revenue Commissioners have said today that they will not in any way be looking at previous years. That is to be welcomed. I want to put on record the fantastic work that family carers do. It is acknowledged and respected. They do phenomenal work for their families and loved ones. Hopefully the measure today from Revenue will bring reassurance in that area.
Deputy Newsome Drennan made reference to the adult safeguarding legislation. At the end of last year, for the first time ever, we brought out the first national adult safeguarding policy. Legislation is being prepared and I want to bring it forward as quickly as possible. It was a priority for me as well as the home care providers legislation. I want to see the safeguarding legislation coming forward as quickly as possible. It is something I am absolutely committed to doing.
People made reference to consent for the under-18s. The under-18s are now included in the Bill. They were not included in the general scheme. There was a discussion with the Department of children and they are now included. We will be bringing forward amendments around the whole consent area for people under 18 years of age. That is a very important point.
The other issue was the personal assistance, PA, exemption. It was exempted under the general scheme. It continues to be but there is work ongoing by the PA review group under the Department of children. We want to respect the work it is doing. Depending on the outcome of that, we will look at amendments if the review group wishes to bring them forward but we want to respect the integrity of the PA service. It is hugely important. We want to allow the PA review group under the Department of children to do its work within the HSE.
The three or less clients provision is included in the Bill because it is proportionate.
It was in the general scheme and we want to ensure it is proportionate.
This is all about improving the service. Deputy John McGuinness raised the funding model. Based on the regulatory impact that was done, it was estimated that the cost would be €1.1 million over the first three years for HIQA to be able to bring in the legislation and the process itself. We will engage with the sector on the regulation of costs. We are conscious of that issue.
It is important that Members are aware that the legislation is to regulate home care providers, regardless of whether they are in the public, private or voluntary sector. That is going to bring about an increase in the quality, safety and consistency of service delivered throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.
It is also important to note that this year alone we are looking at 1.7 million additional home care hours. Since 2020 we have increased from 17 million hours to 30.6 million hours. This year there are 26.7 million hours for older person's services and 3.9 million hours for disability services. I am conscious that, like me, Members here represent people the length and breadth of Ireland. I am in continuous engagement with officials in the Department and the HSE on the issues that arise in respect of the current home care service that is delivered. I will continue to engage with them on the particular points Members have raised today. These are matters I will take up with the HSE in terms of the delivery of the service. We want to get value for money. We want to look after people that are in receipt of the home support service. It is something that I will continue to work on. Regulation is hugely important.
We committed in the programme for Government to design a statutory home care service in the lifetime of this Government. When I came into the brief I looked at it in great depth with the officials. The first step in doing that is to regulate the home care providers, which we are doing with this Bill. I want to get the Bill through. I will work with Members, both here and in the Seanad, to get this legislation through as quickly as possible. I am committed to working with the officials and my Government colleagues to progress the design of a statutory home care scheme. It is an absolute priority, but it must be built on a process. As it stands at the moment, the sector is not regulated. I want to see the home care providers sector regulated. We owe that to the people to whom they deliver the service. The Bill is welcomed by the sector itself. It is something I want to work with it on to ensure we get it up and running as quickly as possible.
The other issues that were raised by Members relate to their own areas and regions. That is something we will take up and work on with the HSE. Regardless of where someone lives, I want to ensure the quality and safety of the level of service that is provided to the public. That is something that is hugely important.
Many of the speakers in the House today have worked in this sector, and that came across. I very much take on board what was said. No one has a monopoly on knowledge in this area. I very much want to work with colleagues to improve all aspects of the home care service. The issue we are debating today relates to the regulation of the sector, which is the first step in the roll-out of a statutory home care scheme.
Other issues that were raised include the work healthcare assistants do. That is hugely important. I very much value that. Members have raised particular issues that currently arise. My understanding is that the HSE is engaging on those aspects. I hope a resolution can be arrived at. Ultimately, this is all about getting to a point where we can put in place a statutory home care scheme in Ireland. This is something the Government and I are utterly committed to, but to get to that point we must regulate the sector.
We have had a very constructive debate here tonight. We will continue to work through the legislation. I welcome further ideas or amendments from Members on Committee Stage when the Bill proceeds to that Stage. The single most important point is that we have now published a Bill to regulate the home care providers sector, which will involve independent regulation of the delivery of the service. I believe this will greatly enhance both the safety, quality and consistency of the home support service delivered the length and breadth of Ireland. I thank all Members for their very comprehensive contributions tonight. I look forward to continuing to work with them on the legislation.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-20