Vol. 561 No. 1
175 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the present cutbacks in support for home help and home carers, taxi services and such necessities for the aged and disabled; if the necessary funds will be earmarked for this purpose to health boards to make sure that those in need will not take the brunt of present cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/03]
The provision of health-related services for older people and for those with disabilities is a matter, in the first instance, for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. My Department has, since 1997, allocated significant levels of funding to services for older people and across the disability sector, resulting in substantial advances in the quality and quantity of the health-related services being provided.
Additional funding of €27 million has been allocated to services for persons with disabilities, in 2003, to meet the full year costs of 2002 developments and to enhance further the services in the sector. This funding is in addition to the very significant revenue investment, amounting to €288 million which has been made in these services in recent years and which is built into the ongoing budget base. Approximately €100 million in additional ongoing revenue has been provided with regard to the maintenance and development of services to people with physical and sensory disabilities. Such services include, residential, respite, home support services which includes personal assistance services, therapy services and day care services. A significant proportion of this funding, over €20 million, has been provided specifically for home support services. A further €81 million has been provided in once-off grants for capital projects and issues such as the provision of technical aids and appliances.
In the case of older people, from, and including, the year 2000, approximately €230 million of additional funding has been provided to the health boards for a range of services for older people, including the home help service, community support structures, and the support of carers' support for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and various voluntary groups, improvement in staff ratios, and improvements to the nursing home subvention scheme.
Although the Deputy does not specifically mention the North Eastern Health Board, I will set out some details of additional funding allocated to this board. In relation to services for older people, over €12 million additional funding has been supplied in the years 2000-03 to the board to cover a range of services.
In relation to services to people with a disability, between 2000 and 2003, inclusive, additional ongoing revenue funding of almost €17 million has been provided to the North Eastern Health Board for the provision of health related services for people with disabilities and those with autism.
I understand that the North Eastern Health Board is undertaking a review in relation to the prioritisation of hours available for home help services and, in tandem, the development of agreed criteria with the intention of ensuring that priority is given to the most vulnerable groups, people with disabilities and older people.
