Vol. 494 No. 5
82 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the consultations, if any, his Department has had with health boards regarding difficulties in recruiting staff in the home help service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/98]
I am aware of the need to develop the home help service which provides a key support service for dependent people in their homes. Following consultations with the chief executive officers of the health boards, my Department commissioned an examination of the future organisation of the home help service in Ireland by the policy research centre of the National College of Ireland under the direction of the National Council on Ageing and Older People. It is expected that this report will be submitted to me and published shortly. I intend to give its recommendations full consideration with a view to early implementation subject to the availability of resources.
