Strict new rules governing companies providing home care to elderly people are in force from today.
The Health Service Executive guidelines include minimum training standards for staff, garda vetting and complaint hotlines.
Publishing the results of what it terms a "comprehensive procurement process" review, the HSE said the new rules are now in place with 26 companies currently tendering for new home care contracts.
The arrangements for 11,000 elderly people currently receiving home care remains the same. Changes apply to future contracts, with 400 of these about to be awarded.
The HSE says staff must be trained to FETAC Level 5 home care standard and will be garda vetted.
Approved service providers will appear on a list for each region. Only medically trained personnel can administer medicine.
Companies must adhere to strict elder abuse guidelines, and strict rules on financial abuse of elder persons.
Information must be provided on "robust" company complaints procedures and patients must be fully informed of HSE complaints procedure and its availability.
Companies will be monitored and sanctions, including suspension of contract, will be imposed if they are not complying with rules.
All contracts will be awarded by national tender, and there will be no local allocation of contracts.
