Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 7

Written Answers. - Home Help Services.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

84 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of home help per hour paid in each of the eight health board areas; his views on whether the current rate of pay is totally inadequate for the work involved; the plans, if any, he has to increase the budget to the health boards to allow for an increase in this payment by a further £1.50, taking into consideration that the Government has accepted a policy that the minimum wage per hour will be £4.40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19985/98]

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

The current hourly rate of payment to part-time home helps is as follows:

Health Board	Hourly Rate
Eastern Health Board	£2.10-£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-£3.20
Southern Health Board	£2.00
South-Eastern Health Board	£2.00
Western Health Board	£2.42

I am aware of the need to develop the home help service which provides a key service in supporting dependent people in their own 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.

It is my intention that the recommendations of the report will be fully considered with a view to early implementation. Although not within the terms of this study, I understand that the question of payments to home helps has been referred to. In this regard, I acknowledge that the system of remuneration of home helps, both in relation to the rates of payment and standardisation across health boards, needs to be addressed. My Department is currently examining how this might be achieved in the context of the availability of resources. Due regard will also be given to the recommendations of the National Minimum Wage Commission.