Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 1

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

86 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the delay for applicants to health boards seeking permission and funding to assist elderly people living at home; and his views on whether this delay forces many to avail of institutional care which by comparison is more costly to the State. [5825/02]

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

I am not certain which scheme the Deputy has in mind when he talks about the provision of washing and toilet facilities at ground floor level.

The provisions of the disabled persons grant scheme, which enables housing modifications to be made to the homes of disabled people, are entirely a matter for the Department of the Environment and Local Government and such grants are administered through the relevant local authority. Use of health board staff, that is, occupational therapists, to provide assessments for this scheme is a matter for discussion between the relevant local authorities and health boards.

The special housing aid scheme for the elderly is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government and its basic objective is to make the houses of older people more habitable. It is administered in a flexible manner. If there are delays in having work carried out due to lack of funding, the matter would have to be considered, in the first instance, by the funding Department, namely, the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

On the wider issue of assisting older people to live at home, my Department has provided considerable funding to the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority over the past three or four years to improve community based services through the employment of additional home helps and nurses-care attendants, together with the provision of additional day care places.