Minister Butler introduces further safeguards for Older People
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler has secured Cabinet’s approval to publish the General Scheme of the Health (Amendment)(Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2024. The Bill introduces a new licensing framework for home support providers.
When enacted, the Bill will amend current legislation and introduce a licensing framework for home support providers. This means that service users who receive home care in their own home can be assured of this safeguarding of the quality and consistency of care across the country. Providers – whether public, private or voluntary - will be required to meet minimum requirements in order to provide a home support service in Ireland.
This framework will be supported by National Quality Standards which will be developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HIQA’s Chief Inspector will be responsible for independent monitoring and assessing compliance of registered home support providers.
For those that receive home care supports in their home, they will be assured of the same minimum standard of care wherever they live. Today in Ireland, approximately 57,000 people will receive home care which enables them to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Last year, 22.1 million hours of home care were delivered the length and breadth of the country, providing this vital wraparound support to help older people to age well.
This Bill will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting, and the legislation will be progressed as a priority by Minister Butler through the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming months.
Government approval has also been granted to publish the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024 which provides for amendments to the Health Act 2007 and the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009.
These new amendments are in response to key recommendations in the COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel Report, which called for the enhancement and modernising of the regulatory framework governing nursing homes. It also provides an obligation on all nursing homes – public, private and voluntary – to provide key data to HIQA which will help oversight and future planning of the nursing home sector in Ireland.
The amendments to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 (Fair Deal) will widen the definition of those eligible to be considered as a ‘family successor’ to a family farm or productive business assets to include cousins, great-nephews and great-nieces, and great-grandchildren. Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) (Amendment) Act 2021, contributions from farm and business assets can be capped after three years in care, as long as the family successor that is appointed will continue to run the asset for a period of time.
Minister Butler said:
"Ireland has one of the highest life expectancies in the EU as deemed by the World Health Organization. My aim every day is to support older people to age well, with the correct wraparound supports in place. Making sure these supports have a legislative framework will provide reassurance that best standards are applied."
The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill provides for:
The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2024 provides for:
Amendments to the Health Act 2007 to:
Amendments to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme 2009 to:
The Health Act 2007 established the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services. It also provides the regulatory framework for residential services for older persons (nursing homes), persons with disabilities and children in need of care and protection. The Chief Inspector of Social Services monitors compliance with this regulatory framework.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 established the Nursing Homes Support Scheme under which financial support is provided to those availing of long-term residential care services.