Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - Home Help Scheme.

David Stanton

Question:

179 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he has satisfied himself with the amount per hour paid by the various health boards to home help workers and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9931/98]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

187 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to provide funding to increase the hourly rate of pay for home helps in the Southern Health Board area to £3 per hour. [10005/98]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 187 together.

The salary scale for full-time home helps with effect from 1 April 1998 is in the range of £213.18 — £225.69. The current hourly rate of payment to part-time home helps by health board is set out as follows:

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

* Average rate of payment in Midland Health Board.

** The Southern Health Board proposes to increase the rate to £2 per hour from 1-7-98.

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 mid-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. I am conscious of the variations between health boards in the hourly rate of payment to part-time home helps and it is the intention to bring about improvements in this situation as resources permit.

David Stanton

Question:

180 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, the Southern Health Board has to meet with the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union as requested by the union to discuss rates and conditions of employment of home help workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9932/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I understand from the Southern Health Board that it has traditionally negotiated with SIPTU in relation to home helps and that accordingly it has no plans to meet the ATGWU in relation to this group of workers at this stage.