Vol. 542 No. 5
277 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he proposes to fund the Southern Health Board policy document, Ageing with Confidence; and if he will provide the £126 million to fully implement the plan. [24873/01]
333 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the Southern Health Board's Ageing with Confidence strategy plan to care for the elderly; if he will provide funding to develop this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25237/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 333 together.
The provision of health services in counties Cork and Kerry is a matter for the Southern Health Board. The Southern Health Board's strategy for the development of services for older people is detailed in the document entitled, Ageing with Confidence. My Department will continue to liaise with the Southern Health Board on progressing the board's development plan for services for older people within the context of the annual estimates process, the national development plan and the forthcoming health strategy. The new health strategy which is being prepared by my Department will encompass a number of specific areas for priority service development, including services for older people.
The Government has significantly increased the levels of additional revenue funding provided for the development of services for older people, from an additional £10 million – 12.69 million – in 1997 to an additional £57.427 million – 72.91 million – in 2001, including nursing home subvention funding. My Department has allocated more than £13 million – 16.5 million – in additional funding to the Southern Health Board in 2001 for the further development of services which affect older people throughout Cork and Kerry. This additional funding includes more than £7 million – 8.88 million – for inter alia improvements to support services in the community, support to carers, day care centres and community hospitals, £5.299 million – 6.72 million – for home help pay, and almost £1 million – 1.26 million – to support clinical services in community hospitals. This funding is being used to progress the implementation of the board's Ageing with Confidence strategy in accordance with regional needs and national policy.
Under the National Development Plan 2001-2006 a total of £35.487 million – 45.05 million – indicative funding has been notified to the Southern Health Board for capital investment in the development of services for older people. It is a matter for the board to decide its priority developments within the national development plan.
