Vol. 450 No. 8
81 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the services provided by health boards which are not of a mandatory nature such as home help service; and the cost of the provision of these services on an annual basis by each health board. [6025/95]
Limerick East): The supply of discretionary health board services such as the home help services varies from health board to health board. However, services widely available would include the home help service, home care attendant service, meals on wheels, day care, laundry service, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropody and respite care.
Most of these services are relevant to a number of different client groups, such as the elderly, persons with a mental handicap and persons with a physical disability. As funding is allocated on the basis of the overall programme for each client group, it is not possible to identify separately the total expenditure on each individual service. On the basis of information currently available to my Department, it is estimated that the home help service costs about £11 million and the meals on wheels services about £2 million. However, I expect to have detailed figures in respect of each health board soon and I will then communicate details to the Deputy.
