asked the Minister for Health if he will state with regard to the home help programme in the last year (a) the amount spent (b) the number of people employed and (c) the number of people catered for.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Help Programme.
22.
An estimated £1,565,000 was spent on the home help services last year. Approximately 4,500 home helps were employed whether in a full-time or part-time capacity, and 5,900 people were catered for by the service.
Would the Minister not agree that £1.5 million represents a very small proportion of the total spent on hospitalisation? Would he not consider expanding that and so saving the State the cost of hospitalisation? If the home help service were expanded the Exchequer could save an enormous amount of money. Would the Minister not agree?
I would agree, yes.