Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 5

Written Answers. - Home Help Service.

Paul McGrath

Question:

112 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the hourly rate of pay by each of the health boards to persons employed as home helps; and if he will consider the making of regulations to standardise these payments in view of the huge variation in these rates and the existence of regulations governing rates of pay in other sectors. [8508/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

The current hourly rate of payment to part-time home helps by health boards is as follows.

Health Board	Hourly Rate£
Eastern	£2.10 to £5.00
Midland	£3.50
Mid-Western	£3.00
North-Eastern	£2.20
North-Western	£2.50 to £3.13
Southern	£1.70
South-Eastern	£2.00
Western	£2.42

* Average rate of payment in Midland Health Board

** The Southern Health Board proposes to increase the rate to £2.00 per hour from 1 July 1988.

The salary scale for full-time home helps with effect from 1 April 1998 is in the range of £213.18-£225.69.

My Department has arranged to have an examination of the home help 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.