Bernard Allen
Question:97 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the rates paid to home helps in each health board area; and the reason for any variation. [4440/98]
Written Answers - Home Help Scheme.
Bernard Allen
Question:98 Mr. Allen 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. [4441/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
The recruitment of and the rate of payment to home helps are matters in the first instance for the individual health boards. The question of increasing the rate of payment of home helps would have to be considered in the context of boards' overall service plans and level of resources available. The current rates applying are as follows:
|
Health Board Area |
Rate per Hour |
|
Eastern Health Board |
£2.10-£4.00 |
|
Midland Health Board |
£3.50* |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
£3.00 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
£2.11* [£2.00-£3.00] |
|
North-Western Health Board |
£2.76* [£2.25-£3.06] |
|
South Eastern Health Board |
£2.00 |
|
Southern Health Board |
£1.70** |
|
Western Health Board |
£2.42 |
(*average figure-range given in parentheses where available; **due to be increased to £2.00 from 1 July 1998.)
The valuable role which is played by home helps in the overall care of older people in this country is widely recognised. In this context, my Department has arranged to have an examination of the home helps services carried out by an independent body, under the supervision of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, to advise on how the services can be developed in a cost effective way in tandem with the other community based services. I expect work to be completed on this review by early summer. When I have received the report I will be in a better position to consider how best to bring about improvements in the overall organisation and development of the home help service.