Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

243 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of carers provided by each health board in view of a recent case taken by the mother of a severely handicapped son against the Southern Health Board in which she was granted an injunction compelling the board to immediately provide a total of 28 hours care per week; the number of hours care in total provided to each person requiring care each week; the way in which care requirements are determined; and the appeals process, if any, in place for a parent or guardian to appeal the decision made on the level of care assistance to be given by any health board. [20647/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I have asked the health boards to compile the information and will forward it to the Deputy when it becomes available to me.

The two largest groups who receive assistance in the home setting from the health boards are people with disabilities and older people.

The Deputy requested information in relation to the number of hours care in total provided to each person requiring care each week. It is not possible to furnish these particular statistics for the following reasons: the very large number of individuals covered by the above mentioned services; the input in individual cases can range from two to three hours a week to 105 hours in the case of personal assistants; and the number of hours can change in individual cases from week to week because of personal circumstances.

I have therefore asked the health boards to indicate the average number of hours service per client.