Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 6

Written Answers. - County Kerry Community Care Service.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

41 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the community care service in County Kerry has been severely curtailed especially in relation to visits to old people; and if he will take action to rectify the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I do not accept that the community care service has been severely curtailed in County Kerry. In 1988 the report, The Years Ahead — Services for the Elderly was published. One of the main recommendations of the report was the establishment of district care teams for the elderly. In 1990 and 1991 the Government made an additional £8 million available to the health boards to implement the recommendations of the report. The Southern Health Board received just over £1.25 million of this money and a substantial proportion of this money has gone to develop services for the elderly in Kerry.

With the aid of this special funding, the Southern Health Board have set up five district care teams in County Kerry. These teams are headed by district liaison nurses supported by 34 public health nurses in the districts. In addition to those nurses, the equivalent of three full-time State registered nurses are being employed on a part-time basis to give a nursing service outside normal working hours. An extra home help supervisor has also been appointed with a further 148 part-time home helps being employed under the scheme. The Southern Health Board have also made additional funding by way of section 65 grants available to voluntary organisations to improve and develop the services to the elderly.

I am satisfied that the community care services in County Kerry are being enhanced as a result of this special funding.