asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of any proposals he has for (1) the need to establish committees made up of elderly people to advise the local authorities in each area of all aspects of ageing and (2) the need to establish an integrated plan for the elderly.
Written Answers. - Care of the Aged.
449.
I assume that the Deputy had intended referring to the health boards rather than the local authorities.
Health boards are free to establish from time to time any advisory committees likely to be of assistance to them in the operation of their services. In some instances boards give financial or personnel support to local care of the aged committees established by voluntary bodies. In addition I might point out that the National Council for the Aged, while not local in character, consists largely of persons, some elderly, involved in services both statutory and voluntary at the local level. The council has issued a series of reports and held a number of seminars intended for the guidance of those involved in these services.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question I would like to say that health boards have the responsibility to co-ordinate the various community and institutional aspects of their services for the aged and to ensure liaison with the voluntary bodies, local authorities and other statutory agencies which may have responsibility in this area. I accept however, that there is a need to review some aspects of the operation of these services and, in this regard, a small working party being established by my Department will begin work shortly.