asked the Minister for Health if he has yet issued a definitive circular to the health boards giving them full and final instructions on the operation of the home help scheme for old people, which was authorised by section 61 of the Health Act, 1971, and, if not, if the non-issue of such a circular is a contributory cause of the delay in the introduction of the scheme in some areas.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Help Scheme.
9.
The answer to both parts of the Deputy's question is "No".
Is the Minister aware that, in his reply to a previous question by me about these home helps, he said that he understood that most health boards had not got around to initiating this scheme and that reply, by implication, suggests that the responsibility for the delay lay with the health boards? This was rather misleading since the Minister has not as yet issued the final circular and the responsibility, therefore, lies with him and not with the health boards.
We are going to issue a notice later in regard to this, but it will be necessary for the new community programme managers to evaluate the requirements in relation to this with a view to deciding whether the home helps would work under the auspices of the voluntary bodies or whether they would be appointed to work not in relation to the voluntary bodies. The whole matter is still being examined.
Would the Minister agree that his original reply tended misleadingly to suggest that the responsibility for the delay lay with the health boards and would he now state when he expects to be in a position to issue the final definitive circular and when the scheme will become available? He will understand there are many people awaiting this service.
I do not want to deceive the House in regard to this matter but, as the health boards are still engaged in the recruitment of staff and as the provision of home helps must be done on a basis that is both satisfactory and effective, I could not issue a circular on this subject at the moment.
Question No. 10. We have 168 questions.
May I ask one final supplementary?
The Deputy has asked three already.
One final supplementary. Is it not the case that the existing local authority has employees functioning at the moment who would be well able to administer this service and that all that is needed is authorisation from the Minister?
I think the matter must be further considered. Under certain sections of the Act it has been interpreted that home helps of a kind can be given already.