Means-Tested Payments Could Support Home Help Services, A Report By The ESRI Found

Thursday, 24 February 2022 09:58

By Caoimhe Harney

The study claims that contributions would make a scheme sustainable for the ageing population.

Means-tested payments from wealthier older people towards the cost of home help would make such services sustainable for an ageing population, the Government has been told.

A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that demand for home help hours, currently provided free under the public system, is likely to increase as the population ages.

Claire Keane Senior Research Officer at ESRI told KFM that free homecare as it is provided in Ireland at the moment is not fit for purpose.

There are currently approximately 5000 people on waiting lists nationally for homecare packages.

Homecare is currently provided by the state free of charge.

A flat rate contribution of €5 per home support hour would raise up to a fifth of the total cost of the scheme.

However, ESRI has warned the impact would fall more heavily on those with low incomes, creating affordability issues.

The report found such a step would increase the elderly poverty rate by an estimated 1.4 per cent.

Socialist Party TD Mick Barry has strongly opposed any suggestion that pensioners be asked to pay for homecare packages.

Deputy Barry said that any new homecare scheme should remain free of charge, contain new investment to end waiting lists and be funded from a steeply progressive tax system.

The Cork North Central deputy commented: "I am completely opposed to asking pensioners to pay for homecare packages.

“Charging would hit those on the lowest incomes the hardest and it would undermine healthcare as people opt out of the scheme for financial reasons.

“The scheme should remain totally free of charge and there should be added investment to clear the waiting lists," he added.

Deputy Barry was a member of the Slaintecare committee but was the only Oireachtas member who did not sign the document.

He called instead for an Irish National Health Service funded from steeply progressive taxation which could provide services such as homecare without resort to market mechanisms.

Senior Research Officer, ESRI, Claire Keane spoke about the report with Clem Ryan on Thursday morning's Kildare Today: