Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
653. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if supports will be allocated to home carers for changes that must be made in line with HIQA's draft national standards for home supports services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73425/25]
View answerThe 2025 Programme for Government includes the commitment to “Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible.” Work is ongoing within the Department of Health to progress this commitment.
A necessary pre-condition for any statutory scheme is to ensure that the sector is regulated. The Department is therefore developing a regulatory framework for all home support providers. This will consist of primary legislation for the registration of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations (minimum requirements), and HIQA national quality standards.
The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 will introduce, for the first time, the registration and regulation by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Service of all home support providers in Ireland. The objective of the proposed registration system is to improve the safety and quality of home support services by ensuring that registered home support providers do not operate below the standard set by Ministerial regulations and will ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard and will bring Ireland in line with best international practice.
The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 has now been published on the Oireachtas website and will be brought before the Oireachtas shortly for consideration.
The provisions within the Bill will amend HIQA’s powers to include setting standards in relation to the safety and quality of home support services provided by registered home support providers. Draft standards for home support providers have been submitted by HIQA to the Minister for Health and are currently being reviewed by officials to ensure alignment with the Bill. The Department will continue to work closely with stakeholders, including HIQA, the HSE and representative groups as the Bill progresses through both Houses of the Oireachtas and during the implementation phase.
