People waiting 'in excess of nine months' for homecare in Cork and Kerry

The crisis continues despite improvements in working conditions and pay for home support workers and greater access to work permits for foreign staff. File picture: Pexels

There are 5,671 people waiting for homecare, including 1,348 in Cork and Kerry alone, due to an ongoing crisis in carer numbers, new HSE data shows.

Some people in Cork and Kerry have waited “in excess of nine months” to begin receiving help or for an extension to existing packages, the HSE admitted.

The challenge is particularly acute in rural areas where carers may have long distances to travel between clients.

The crisis continues despite improvements in working conditions and pay for home support workers and greater access to work permits for foreign staff.

Out of 1,000 new work permits allocated to this sector last year, 795 have been issued, according to the Department of Enterprise. It is taking 26 days for standard applications to be processed.

A HSE spokesman said: “Priority is given to people in the community with acute needs and people assessed and waiting in acute hospitals, who are in a position to return home with supports.” 

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The Cork and Kerry service received exemptions from the recruitment freeze in 49 cases, 28 of whom began work between January and March.

Most people (842) waiting in this area have no help, while 506 are waiting for extra hours.

“Due to challenges relating to recruitment at a time of full employment, some clients have waited in excess of nine months for their package/part of their package to commence,” a spokeswoman said.

Minister of state for older people Mary Butler sees improving access to home support as a priority, her spokeswoman said.

“The waiting list is predominantly due to the shortage of care workers to deliver services,” she said.

The minister asked the HSE to allow home support offices increase the hours of any carer who can take on extra work, she added. 

Over 57,000 people are receiving homecare, and the waiting lists have reduced by 390 people since January 2023.