Question from Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl - PQ 35221-26

To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on home support waiting lists at end of March 2026; to provide a progress update on the development of the statutory home support scheme; to provide an update on the Sláintecare 2025+ commitment to finalise design and operational aspects of the operating model for home support services by the end of the year, in order to ensure readiness to comply with new regulatory requirements; to provide figures of the proportion of home support hours delivered by directly employed HSE staff versus private providers in 2026 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.