Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 2

Written Answers. - Home Help Services.

Mildred Fox

Question:

71 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for Health the number of persons working in home help services in County Wicklow; the number of persons availing of home help services in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11203/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

(Limerick East): Under section 61 of the Health Act, 1970, health boards may make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of persons who but for the provision of such a service would require to be maintained otherwise than at home. This section empowers, without obliging, health boards to provide support services such as home help, laundry and meals.

With regard to the Deputy's particular query, the Eastern Health Board provides home help assistance through its community welfare section. In addition to this, the board directly funds three voluntary groups which are providing home help services in Bray, Greystones and Arklow. The numbers of home helps employed and people assisted are as follows:

	No. Home Helps Employed	No. Availing of Service
EHB Community Welfare Section	112	124
Bray Home Help Organisation	96	207
Greystones Home Help Organisation	62	98
Arklow Home Help Organisation	35	67
Total	305	496

Finally, the board also provides a grant to Wicklow Community Services, a voluntary group which arranges, among other things, home help services in the Wicklow area.