They say the sector is in the midst of a recruitment crisis.
The home care sector is pleading with government to be allowed to recruit staff from outside the European Economic Area.
Health care assistants are currently on the 'ineligible occupations list' for recruitment of workers from outside the EEA.
This means the sector cannot recruit enough staff to meet its clients' needs.
However, non EEA carers and care assistants can work in nursing homes or hospitals but not as a private home carer.
Home and Community Care Ireland, which is making the call, says pay is not a factor in the sector's inability to recruit and retain staff.
Joseph Musgrave is CEO of Home and Community Care Ireland.
He joined Clem Ryan on Thursday's edition of Kildare Today:
Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) is calling for health care assistants to be removed from the 'ineligible occupations list' for those from outside the European Economic Area https://t.co/39XogXPvpR
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 11, 2021