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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 1

Written Answers. - Home Help Scheme.

Brendan Smith

Question:

53 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to standardise the rate of home help pay; the future plans, if any, he has to improve the rate of pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3736/97]

Brendan Smith

Question:

74 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern in relation to the inadequate funding of the home help scheme; the proposals, if any, he has to provide the necessary additional funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3735/97]

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.

In response to previous questions in this House I stated that the Department in consultation with the chief executive officers of the health boards has under active consideration a number of aspects of the home help scheme, including the overall organisation of the service and the diversity of arrangements which exist within the health boards for the provision of this service.
A discussion document submitted by the chief executive officers group formed the basis for this examination of the home help services. Following on from these discussions, the Department decided to have an examination of the operation of the home help services carried out by an independent body which will advise on how the services can be developed in a cost effective way in tandem with the other community based services. Following receipt of tenders for this review, the contract has been awarded and the work will commence shortly. It is expected that the review will be completed before the end of the year.
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