Michael Ring
Question:204 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason family members and relatives are excluded from providing home help with full payment; and the regulation under which this is stipulated. [15552/01]
Written Answers. - Home Help Service.
The home help scheme was introduced in 1972 under a provision of the Health Act, 1970, and at that time the chief executive officers of the health boards, recognising the new initiative was not intended to replace the arrangement whereby informal family carers provided assistance in the tasks of daily living to many old people living at home, took a collective decision not to engage family members and relatives as paid home helps. There is no specific legislation in this regard. In exceptional circumstances, there have been instances where a distant relative, for example a cousin, has been employed as a home help.
I am happy to say that things have improved for informal family carers in recent years. The carer's allowance is available to qualified applicants and the health boards have received specific funding to provide assistance to family carers.