Vol. 480 No. 6
250 Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the decision made by the Southern Health Board to give an increase of £ 0.30 per hour to home helps; his views on whether this is a sufficient increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14355/97]
321 Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce a national rate of pay for people engaged in home help in view of the disparity in the level of pay by different health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15049/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 321 together.
With regard to persons engaged in the home help service on a part-time basis, the position is that the rate of payment varies considerably throughout the country, determined by the particular requirements and the type of task undertaken in individual cases. It is a 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.
In the Southern Health Board, where the payment is currently £ 1.40 per hour, negotiations have taken place with SIPTU and an offer has been made to increase this rate on a phased basis. As I understand it, a formal written offer has been made to the trade union representing this group - the increase of 30 pence the Deputy refers to is the first phase of this increase, with a further increase of 30 pence per hour with effect from 1 July 1998. In all, this will be an increase of over 40 per cent on the current rate.
I would emphasise that the underlying philosophy governing the operation of the home help scheme is that it is a community based good neighbour scheme which would attract volunteers primarily motivated by the desire to engage in community service. The service does not come within the realm of conventional employment. Income in respect of services provided is a payment which is not intended to compensate fully for the nature of the task undertaken. Such income does not come within the scope of the PAYE code and is not taken into account for the purposes of a means test where a home help, or the spouse of a home help, is in receipt of a means-tested welfare payment.
The issue has been raised on many occasions in the House. My Department, in consultation with the chief executive officers of the health boards, is considering 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.
