Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 5

Written Answers. - Carer Support Groups.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

197 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the initiatives, if any, taken by each health board following the announcement in 1999 of £1 million for improvement of liaison and support services for individual carers and local voluntary agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8488/00]

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

The £1 million allocated to health boards for the benefit and support of carers was to be used in a flexible manner based on local needs. The Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards have provided the following information requested by the Deputy:

Eastern Regional Health Authority – £175,000 – Age Action and Care Alliance were provided with funding to set up carer support groups. The Carers Association was provided with funding to assist in the education and training of carers. Powerscourt parish was provided with funding for carer's transport. Crosscare provided respite care to carers. Age and Opportunity appointed a liaison officer to assist with the development and support of carers. Skerries Day Care Centre was upgraded to assist in respite breaks for carers and Our Lady of Lourdes, Sheriff Street, received funding towards its day care centre.

Midland Health Board – £100,000 – The allocation of funding was used for additional respite breaks during the summer months, to improve training for carers, to provide assistance to non statutory organisations, the funding of pilot projects and physio outreach activity.

Mid-Western Health Board – £125,000 – The additional funding has provided respite breaks for carers and the establishment of carer support groups in care units for older people in the board's area. Carer support groups were established in collaboration with social services organisations and provide training and ongoing support to carers who are primarily caring in the home.

North-Eastern Health Board – £100,000 – The allocation of funding was distributed to the three community care areas within the board's region. In the Meath community care area the allocation was used to grant aid voluntary organisations in the community. In the Louth community care area the allocation has been used to grant aid voluntary day care services, voluntary community services and to provide additional care supports to carers. In the Cavan-Monaghan area a project officer, grade IV, was appointed whose remit is to manage the links between the board's services and those of the voluntary sector. The project officer also provides support to existing voluntary activities-services and to the development of new initiatives which are aimed at improving the social well-being of the client group.

North-Western Health Board – £100,000 – The board funded a caring for the carers survey – a survey of carers of older people and-or dependent people in Sligo-Leitrim-west Cavan. A home care support service was funded which provides respite breaks for full time carers. The allocation also provided additional home help hours.

Southern Health Board – £150,000 – The Carers Association received a grant to set up carers resource centres-carer outreach services, Cork and to support existing services. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland received a grant to support the association's carers support network and carer training programme. The board seconded a senior public health nurse to draw up a strategy for responding to carers needs. One of the recommendations of the strategy was the appointment of a development manager, carer support services. This appointment has been made and the strategy implementation process is now under way in consultation with Southern Health Board professionals and voluntary care groups.

South-Eastern Health Board – £125,000 – The board conducted a research project to identify the information and health promotion needs of carers of older persons in consultation with the Waterford Institute of Technology and University of Ulster. The board provided funding for the development of additional services for carers including day care, respite care and home support services. Grants to many voluntary agencies caring for older people were increased, providing day care, meals on wheels and other support services. Co-ordinators of services for older people have been appointed in each community care area.

Western Health Board – £125,000 – The board undertook a survey of carers and arising from the findings of this study, the board developed a policy to support carers in the Western Health Board area. This policy includes the appointment of three co-ordinators, one in each community care area, to develop carers support groups throughout the region in partnership with existing carer organisations, agencies working with people with disabilities and service providers e.g. community nursing units, district hospitals, geriatric hospitals and community services. The policy includes the development of local planning groups with representation from community services and carers themselves. The function of the local planning group is, in as far as it is possible, to identify and plan to meet the needs of carers in their local area which includes, inter alia, the development of planned respite and day care services. Additional initiatives undertaken in 1999 included grant aid to the Carers Association. The board also provided sponsorship for the National Carers Conference which took place in Ballina.

I have allocated an additional sum of £1 million this year to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards to further develop support services for carers in a flexible manner to meet their most urgent needs.