Independent TD highlights alarming increase in Offaly home care waiting lists

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has highlighted the alarming increase in home care waiting lists that have impacted CHO Area 8 (in which Offaly is loctaed) with Tánaiste Simon Harris in the Dáil today.

Deputy Nolan pointed to a report by Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) that revealed there were 5,556 older people waiting nationally for home care at the end of 2024.

However, the waiting list in CHO 8 rose by 31% to 932 making it the second highest waiting list in the country according to HCCI. In real terms this means that the estimated waiting list for older people in Laois/Offaly is now 350 to 400.

“I am however somewhat encouraged by his response to my request, in line with HCCI recommendations, that home care is placed on a statutory footing in order to ensure that people are not forced into nursing homes when they are capable of staying of home.

“Without this we will continue to see areas such a CHO Area 8 and counties such as Offaly confronting significant regional disparities in terms of waiting lists.

“I am aware from my engagement with HCCI that the only significant development that has taken place in the last five years is the publication of a home care regulations bill that is still currently under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, while there has been little to no progress on areas such as funding, legal entitlements and a reformed service delivery.

“I specially asked the Tánaiste to deliver targeted funding for rural home care delivery and the design of a home care workforce strategy to encourage providers into home care blackspots, such as Offaly which is currently struggling with a totally unacceptable waiting list for this vital service,” concluded Deputy Nolan.