PEOPLE needing home care in Donegal are waiting longer than half the population of Ireland, according to a new study.
It is claimed that around 50 per cent of people wait half a year for home help –but 35 per cent wait longer than six months in Donegal.
However, in Dublin, people wait as few as two days, according to the figures from Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI).
The carers’ body claims home care is determined by an “Eircode lottery”.
Carers’ body Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) claims Home care health in Donegal exposes postcode lottery.
HCCI is the national representative body and leading voice for independent home care providers across the country, both private and non-profit.
It has 46 member companies that operated more than 100 offices nationwide, and employs over 15,000 home care workers who deliver home care services to more than 35,000 older and disabled people nationwide.
HCCI this week published its report Home Support in Ireland 2025 and reported that 5,600 people nationally were waiting for home care at the end of 2025.
The number of older people receiving home support rose by three per cent to 60,463.
A spokesperson said: “HCCI data exposes an Eircode lottery in home care waiting lists.
“The association is calling for a national mileage scheme, sustained investment, and a waiting list taskforce to end home care blackspots [like Donegal].
“The report has exposed a stark Eircode lottery in access to home care.”
She added: “Regional waiting list insights show that urgent action is needed. The HSE West and North West region shows 1,380 people waiting, with 346 in Donegal.
“The West and North West has the highest waiting list of any HSE Health Region, as well as the highest percentage of people aged 65 and older.
“How long are people waiting? While no national data exists for waiting times, local data obtained by parliamentary questions paints a mixed picture that further deepens the regional inequalities in Ireland’s home care sector.
“Nearly half of people are waiting at least six months for home care in Cork. Some 35 per cent wait longer than six months in Donegal.
“However, Dublin processes new applicants within two to seven working days.
“Counties in the West and North West such as Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Mayo have higher waiting lists relative to their populations than their totals first suggest.”
HCCI chief Joseph Musgrave said: “This data confirms that where you live in Ireland determines how long you wait for home care.
“We need sustained investment that keeps pace with our ageing population, and a taskforce with the authority to tackle blackspots directly.”