Vol. 508 No. 2
72 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some people in great need of home help services are not receiving the services they require due to the fact it is proving nearly impossible to recruit home helps due to the low rates of pay on offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18191/99]
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. The recommendations of this report are currently being considered by a departmental working group.
This year, I have provided approximately £3 million in additional resources for health boards to bring the minimum rate 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.
