Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,420 lines we hold for Kieran O'Donnell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 29 of 29.
“Refurbishment works are currently under way and are expected to be completed by June 2025. The HSE continues to seek engagement updates from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on this matter. The matter the Senator has highlighted is that a service was in place which was of huge benefit to local people and their families. I have asked the HSE, through my departmental officials, to consider extensively the possibility of engaging a new provider to deliver the service.”
“It is understood that the decision to close is not related to the availability of funding from the HSE. In the meantime, it is essential that people who rely on the service are provided with reasonable alternatives. Senator O'Loughlin referred to Ballyteague GAA club, which is where the Allenwood service is located. As I have stated, as well as working to find places in other services for those affected, the HSE is examining the possibility of engaging new providers to deliver the service. That is something I have asked my officials to look at expediting. I know the impact it is having on people and their families. I am new to the role, but I have made a lot of inquiries about this matter. I know the impact of the lack of services on people. In the longer term, it is planned that the day service would move to Kilmeague Health Centre.”
“The HSE actively sources transport to assist clients to travel to other day centres. I note the reservations the Senator has highlighted in that regard. I am also advised that everyone has been offered a meals on wheels service. Furthermore, the HSE is also examining the possibility of engaging new providers to deliver the service. I instructed my officials to contact the HSE and seek to expedite the engagement of a new provider to deliver the service. As a private voluntary organisation, decisions about the closure of the service and the employment of staff rest with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It has advised the HSE that it is currently conducting an internal review of the service and the HSE is awaiting the outcome of that review.”
“Vincent de Paul issued a temporary notice of closure to the people who use the service and notified the HSE older persons services accordingly. The HSE reports that 34 people were affected - the Senator mentioned 37 - by the notified closure. I fully appreciate that the closure has caused considerable upset to the people who use the service. The Senator referenced people like Karen Gorey and many others have contacted me. The Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, has been in communication with me. Councillor Brendan Wyse also contacted me about the closure. The centre is hugely important for the community. The HSE older persons section contacted all people affected by the closure, offering them an alternative daycare place from 28 January. Engagement is ongoing.”
“I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. She will appreciate that the new programme for Government has highlighted the importance of community services for older people to assist them to remain independent and live in their homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Many older people living at home rely on services that they receive through day centres and the outreach these centres provide, which often includes meals on wheels. As the Senator referenced, Allenwood daycare centre is a HSE-funded service in Kildare. It is managed and operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through a service level arrangement for daycare and meals on wheels services in Allenwood and the surrounding area. In December 2024, the Society of St.”
“In one sense it is about older people and their social and health aspects and about the housing aspects. That model will cover all aspects of life. I am delighted to contribute to this debate and I look forward to working with all Members into the future.”
“Final amendments have been made to draft quality standards for home support providers. Following a public consultation engagement with stakeholders groups and partners working closely with HIQA, the prepared draft quality standards went out for public consultation. We are actively working on that with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and are looking to bring the Bill to Cabinet as quickly as possible. The other issue that came up with a number of Members is that of right-sizing for older people. I am a Minister of State in two Departments, health and housing. My remit is to look at housing options for older people, which includes right-sizing. I am actively working on this with the officials in the Department of housing at the moment and I hope to bring it forward.”
“The general scheme of the health (amendment)(licensing of professional home support providers) Bill seeks to establish a licensing framework for a professional home support service. This was approved by the Government on 14 May last year. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health published its pre-legislative scrutiny report in October of last year. My officials are reviewing the recommendations of the committee's report. The general scheme has now been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting with a view to presenting the Bill to Cabinet as soon as possible. This is something I am actively working on. I want to get this to Cabinet as quickly as possible. It is the first element to it. The Bill would provide for regulation of the sector by HIQA.”
“I am pleased to take part in this debate on the future of healthcare for longer and healthier lives. I will touch on two topics, one of which, the statutory home care scheme, came up in the debate. I will give Members an update on that and then I want to speak about right-sizing, which falls under my brief as positive ageing, and housing options for people to age positively. The programme for Government has committed to designing a statutory home care scheme to allow people stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Achieving this commitment will require focused efforts across several different elements all working towards developing a statutory framework. The first element being legislated for relates to licensing and registration of home care support providers.”
“In addition, students experiencing exceptional financial need may be eligible to apply for supports under the student assistance fund, which has been subvented by a further €10 million under the Government’s cost of education supports in budget 2025. This fund can be used to meet costs such as childcare, rent, transport costs, books and class materials. The Senator raised a specific point in respect of the HSE, which I will bring back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.”
“The Department of further and higher education provides student grants to eligible applicants attending approved full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Grants include maintenance grants, fees grants and student contribution grants. Budget 2024 increased the value of all maintenance grants. Students who are not eligible for a maintenance grant may still be eligible for a student contribution grant, which could cover the full student contribution charge, 50% of the charge or provide a €500 grant towards same. The income thresholds to qualify for the grants were increased in budget 2025 and the higher thresholds will come into effect in September of this year.”
“I again thank Senator Crowe for raising this matter. The delivery of healthcare education programmes is complex and requires multiple parts of the health and education system working together. Practice education is a fundamental part of a student’s learning experience. The Department of Health provides supports to the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure essential practice placements are available for HSCP students. It is recognised that many students in higher education experience financial difficulties. Consequently, a number of student grants and other financial supports are available to students in further and higher education. In budget 2025, there was a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students who are eligible for free fees.”
“Details are available from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I note the point the Senator raised and I will bring it back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.”
“In addition, intern students can be allocated across all shift patterns, including nights, weekends and 12-hour days. An independent review of the radiation therapy profession was finalised in 2024, making 16 recommendations in total. These recommendations intend to support the radiation therapy profession into the future. The review considered important issues such as organisational structure, career development in line with health and social care professional frameworks, strategic workforce planning, and recruitment and retention strategies. An oversight committee is being established by the HSE to implement the recommendations arising from the review. Senator Crowe may also wish to note that there are a number of student grants and other financial supports available to students in further and higher education.”
“Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy or radiation therapy, dietetics and radiography students do not receive an allowance to support time spent in clinical placements as part of their training. As the Senator mentioned, uniquely for student nurses and midwives, there is in the final year a paid salary when they are specifically employed on internship placements. Student nurses’ and midwives’ final year internship placements consist of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement as student nurses and midwives take a reduced caseload. During these placements, students are under supervision and are considered as 0.5 whole-time equivalents of the workforce.”
“Practice hours have been reduced to 1,000 hours from 1,200 hours. As Senator Crowe mentioned, radiation therapists play a vital role in the delivery of radiation therapy services and supporting patients through each step of their cancer journey. There are approximately 227 whole-time equivalent radiation therapists employed by the HSE. While on placement, radiation therapy students are not employees of the HSE and remain registered with the higher education institution throughout their placements. The nature of the placement is in a learning capacity under supervision meaning their status as a student is protected. In general, there are no allowances or payments for HSCP students while completing placement hours in the health service.”
“These students are not employees and are therefore not paid. In many cases, the nature of placement can mainly be limited to participation in an observing and learning capacity. The length of placements for health and social care professions - HSCPs for short - and the activities performed during these placements varies between disciplines and is determined by the educational standards set by professional regulators. Practice placements for radiation therapy students takes place in two blocs in year one and two blocks in year two. Students must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours in clinical settings. Placements are provided in public and private healthcare settings. CORU registration requirements have been changed to bring Irish training requirements in line with international comparators.”
“I thank Senator Crowe for raising this matter today. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Practice education placements for radiation therapy students are essential to support clinical skills development in the application of theory to patient care and attainment of regulatory standards of proficiency. Practice education offers opportunities for students to translate theoretical learning into practical experience, work in different settings and develop relevant practical skills. Across the health and social care disciplines, there are many students on placements in hospitals and healthcare settings, of which approximately one third are final year students. The length of placement and the activities performed during these placements vary between the disciplines.”
“Sligo-Leitrim. The funding is there. It is back to the individual regions themselves. The Deputy might come back to us so our Department can follow up with the HSE locally to ensure the funding is in place for that provision.”
“I thank Deputy Feighan. On a general category, this year home support has increased by €122 million. That is the largest ever. It is at €838 million. The Deputy did not reference a specific area so he might come back to us.”