Vol. 490 No. 7
164 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Eastern Community Works, in an advertisement for home care attendants, required that applicants be aged 21 to 55 years; and his views on whether this constitutes unwarranted discrimination on age grounds. [10996/98]
The employment of home care attendants by the Eastern Community Works and the setting down of conditions attaching to such employment are matters for the agency itself. However, I am advised that the minimum age requirement of 21 was set having regard to the nature of the job and the level of maturity deemed necessary to discharge the duties effectively. Essentially, the home care attendant works mostly on his or her own providing a wide range of care for elderly people who are, in the main, living alone. The upper age limit of 55 was set having regard to the position pertaining to upper age limits generally throughout the public service.
