Frontline carers get less than half the hourly pay of the agencies that employ them, Aontú reveals.
Party leader Peadar Tóibín highlights: “Two-thirds of the income per hour goes to the employment providers, while the care worker is on minimum wage.”
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has highlighted how home support workers earn less than half per hour than the agencies who provide the service.
The Meath West TD asked for the figures in a parliamentary question to the HSE.
The reply showed the agencies earn €32.73 for every hour of care delivered, which the home support carer hired to do the job is on €14.15 an hour.
Said Deputy Tóibín: “The State is paying agencies €32.73 for every hour of care delivered. Yet the carers who wash, dress, feed and care for vulnerable older people can receive as little as €14.15 an hour.
He continued: “That means more than 60 per cent of the income is going to the agency.
“It’s not going to the individual who is doing all the work. You accept there is management elements, fees and structures and an organisation role by these agencies.
“But it’s hard to see how or why it should be more than the actual substantive reason for the payment, which is the difficult and dedicated job the hands-on carer does.”
He said with 5,425 people on the waiting list for home support, it’s clear such low pay is the reason behind the shortage of carers.
He said: “This is 5,425 who have been assessed and are awaiting a carer to be assigned. It is not to do with a lack of funding. This shortage of carers is directly related to the low pay of €14.15 an hour, for a demanding and important role. The home support agency receives €32.73.”
This low hourly rate is leading to the shortage, which is leading to waiting lists. So again it is government policy that’s the reason why.
“If you want to recruit, you have to compete in the market and provide a salary compared to the market.
“Every single one of the 5,425 people currently waiting is waiting because there are not enough carers available to provide the service.”
“These figures raise fundamental questions about value for money and workforce planning. The HSE’s own figures show that spending on home support has increased by more than 68% since 2021, yet waiting lists remain stubbornly high and staff shortages continue to prevent approved care from being delivered. Costs are rising dramatically, but the workforce crisis is getting worse.”
“I am calling on The Minister for Health to publish a breakdown of the €32.73 hourly payment made to home care providers, to show how much of every €32.73 paid by the taxpayer reaches the frontline carer and how much is absorbed by administration, management, overheads and other costs.”
“If staff shortages are the reason older people are not receiving care, then we need to know whether low pay is driving carers out of the sector. It is common sense that if carers were paid better, more people would take up and remain in these vital jobs.”
“Despite record increases in funding, the Government has failed to resolve the staffing crisis that is preventing approved home care from being delivered. Older people are being left waiting, families are being forced to fill the gaps, and taxpayers are spending more money than ever before ” he said.
