Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Home Help Service.

Finian McGrath

Question:

460 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the NAHB are cutting home help services by 9%; and if his attention has further been drawn to the disastrous implications of these cuts. [11772/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Callely)

Responsibility for the provision of the home help service in north Dublin rests with the Northern Area Health Board operating under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Additional funding available for non-capital investment in services has been allocated to the health services. This funding is being applied largely to maintaining existing levels of service across all service programmes including services for older people

The board has advised my Department that the number of clients in receipt of home help in north Dublin in 2002 was 2,556. The figures for the first quarter of 2003 are 3,100 clients. The total number of hours for 2002 was 389,674, and the figures for the first quarter for 2003 show a total of 97,506 hours.

The board has further advised that the home help services are being developed and integrated into projects such as personal care provision, home care packages and home first following intensive training. These projects will provide customised care packages, which will be flexible and responsive to enable older people to continue living at home for as long as possible in accordance with their wishes and that resources from other care areas may be moved into the home help service during the year.