Private homecare firms not paying staff enough, says minister

Poor pay in the sector is leading to a staffing crisis, says Mary Butler, the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People

Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Older People Mary Butler has hit out at private homecare providers for not paying staff enough. File photo: Gareth Chaney

Private firms which have not paid homecare workers enough money have come under fire from the Minister for Older People. 

Poor pay in the sector is causing staff shortages, said Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler. "There's no shortage of healthcare assistants. But there's a shortage of healthcare assistants who want to be paid minimum wage," she said.