Vol. 493 No. 3
299 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of home attendants employed by the Eastern Health Board in County Kildare; if the scheme is proving to be a success; the plans, if any, he has to provide additional funding for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16140/98]
Home care attendants operate as part of a district care unit. A district care unit is a community-based service to enable older people to continue living in their home environment by providing a multi-discipline input, including the employment of home care attendants. Initially 140 hours per week were approved by the Eastern Health Board for the district care unit in Kildare, which is equivalent to three and a half full time home care attendants. In 1997, an additional 30 hours was approved by the board, thereby increasing the total to approximately four full time posts. I understand from the board that there are plans to provide an additional 100 hours per week for Kildare, thus increasing the number of full time posts to seven. It is intended to concentrate these new resources in south Kildare. The Eastern Health Board reports that the scheme has proved to be successful in Kildare and the proposed extension of the scheme will further enhance home support to a larger number of families.
