Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 74 together.
The issue of payment for part-time home helps has been raised on a number of occasions in the recent past. As the Deputy will be aware, the rate of remuneration varies considerably throughout the country. In particular, in the Eastern Health Board area the service is provided wholly by voluntary groups which accounts for the wide variation within the area. In all boards the rates are determined by the particular requirements and the type of task undertaken in individual cases. It is matter for each health board to decide on the level of home help services required and the level of payment to be made in respect of these services. The chief executive officer of each board is in the best position to decide on these issues as my Department has no involvement in the day to day management of the service. However, I would like to point out to the Deputy that my Department has allocated additional funding this year to three of the health boards this year, including the North-Eastern Health Board, for the purpose of increasing the rates of payment to home helps.