Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

252 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the elderly as a percentage of the population in each health board area; the way in which the distribution of resources under the national development plan reflects these percentages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9671/01]

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

Statistics, published by the National Council on Ageing and Older People, indicated the following figures for persons aged 65 years or more, in 1996, as a percentage of population in each health board region:

Health Board Region	Percentage aged over 65
North Western	13.9
Western	14.0
Mid-Western	11.8
Southern	12.1
South-Eastern	11.9
Eastern	9.7
North-Eastern	10.2
Midland	12.2

The capital allocations to each health board region, in respect of services for older people under the national development plan for the period 2001-06, inclusive, are as follows, with the respective percentages indicated:

Capital allocations under NDP 2001-2006

Region	2001£m	2002£m	2003£m	2004£m	2005£m	2006£m	Board Total£m	% of GrandTotal
North Western	1.32	1.36	2.60	2.52	3.29	2.57	13.66	7.25
Western	1.90	1.97	3.93	3.82	5.02	3.85	20.49	10.87
Mid-Western	1.28	1.88	3.54	3.35	3.62	2.68	16.35	8.67
Southern	3.87	3.93	6.59	6.43	8.08	6.59	35.49	18.83
South Eastern	1.37	1.44	2.83	2.75	3.63	2.78	14.80	7.85
ERHA	5.57	5.79	12.4	11.9	16.03	12.1	63.78	33.84
North Eastern	1.21	1.24	2.23	2.16	2.79	2.18	11.81	6.26
Midland	1.05	1.10	2.34	2.27	3.04	2.27	12.07	6.41
Grand Total:							188.445

In considering the above, it must be borne in mind that the actual numbers of persons aged 65 years and over, in each health board region, in 1996, are as follows:

Region	Population of persons aged 65+	Percentage of total
North Western	29,395	7.10
Western	49,188	11.88
Mid-Western	37,480	9.06
Southern	66,127	15.98
South Eastern	46,590	11.26
Eastern	125,271	30.27
North Eastern	34,812	8.41
Midland	25,019	6.05
Total	413,882

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

253 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the elderly living on their own in each health board area, the implications this has for support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9672/01]

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

Statistics, published by the National Council for the Elderly, indicate the following figures for older persons living in each health board region, and the numbers and percentage living alone:

Region	Population of persons aged 65+, 1996	Projected persons aged 65+ living alone, 1996
North Western	29,395	8,423 (28.65%)
Western	49,188	14,401 (29.27%)
Mid-Western	37,480	9,776 (26.08%)
Southern	66,127	17,759 (26.85%)
South Eastern	46,590	12,099 (25.96%)
Eastern	125,271	34,295 (27.37%)
North Eastern	34,812	9,862 (28.33%)
Midland	25,019	6,653 (26.60%)
Total	413,882	113,135 (27.34%)

These numbers emphasise the need for adequate community care support and, in this regard, this government has made significant additional resources available over the last three years, as follows:

Additional resources for Community Care Support,

1999-2001

Year	Home Help Development£m	Support to Carers£m	Community Supports(Nurses/Care Attendants/ Physiotherapists, etc.)£m
1999	1.500	1.000	0.800
2000	0.780	1.000	0.780
2001	2.000	2.000	5.490
Totals	4.280	4.000	7.070