Vol. 494 No. 6
12 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the future of the home help services; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty in recruiting staff in many areas in view of the very low pay levels; the plans, if any, he has to put the service on a more formal footing in view of its essential nature; and when proposals in this regard will be brought forward. [18878/98]
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 and development 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 published shortly. I intend to give its recommendations full consideration with a view to early implementation subject to the availability of resources.
