Mary Wallace
Question:30 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has in relation to the funding of carers' associations. [11757/96]
Written Answers. - Carers' Association Funding.
Mary Wallace
Question:74 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to meet with the carers' association to discuss its funding problems. [11837/96]
Mary Wallace
Question:76 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the funding, if any, that is available from his Department or the Eastern Health Board in respect of respite home care, National Careline, young carers and training and insurance services of the Carers' Association operated by that association in the Eastern Health Board's area. [11839/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 74 and 76 together. As Minister for Health, I am very conscious of the contribution made by carers to the maintenance of dependent elderly people in their own homes. Indeed, supporting elderly people at home is a major objective of health policy and in recent years my Department has encouraged health boards to provide support services for the elderly and their carers whether by services in the home, such as home help, or by way of respite care in a hospital or nursing home.
I am also very supportive of the effort made by the Carer's Association in raising the profile of those within the community who care for people with disabilities, the dependent elderly people and those with severe illnesses.
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the respite care grants scheme was transferred to my Department from the Department of Social Welfare in 1995. Last year, £500,000 was allocated to the health boards for the scheme and I understand that the Carer's Association benefited nationally to the tune of £32,500. The Eastern Health Board allocated £10,000 to the Carer's Association in 1995 towards a "once-off" home care project in a particular area of the board. The board also assisted 28 other organisations from their respite care allocation. Those assisted included organisations serving persons with physical disabilities, psychiatric illness, mental handicap and elderly people. This year, £500,000 has again been allocated to the health boards for respite care and interested organisations are eligible to apply for funding from their local health board.
I am currently arranging for senior officials of my Department to meet the Carer's Association.