Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 3

Written Answers - Home Help Service.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

242 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to increase the hourly rate of family support workers and home help to the rate paid to assistant house parents, that is, approximately £7.46 per hour (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2538/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

In relation to family support workers, SIPTU and Impact have lodged a claim on this group's behalf with the Health Service Employers' Agency seeking the assistant houseparent rate. It has been indicated to the unions that this claim can only be dealt with within the accepted parameters of the PCW. The unions are currently considering this.

With respect to home helps, my Department commissioned a report examining 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. This report has recently been presented to me and it is my intention that its recommendations will be fully considered with a view to early implementation.

I have recently provided approximately £3 million in additional resources to health boards to bring the minimum rate of payment for all home helps up to £3 per hour from 1 April 1999. This is part of a phased improvement in the rate of payment for home helps, the remaining phases of which I hope to implement as resources permit.