Vol. 571 No. 1
983 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hours allocated for the home help service by the South Western Area Health Board for this year and for each of the past three years; the proposals there are in regard to any further reduction in the number of hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20918/03]
The provision of home help services in the South Western Area Health Board is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the board acting under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The actual number of hours provided by the South Western Area Health Board for the home help service in 2002 was a total of 949,680 and the planned number of hours to be provided in 2003 is estimated at a total of 909,491.
As the information sought by the Deputy for 2001 is not held in my Department, the regional chief executive of the authority has been asked to investigate the matter raised and provide the information requested, to my Department, as a matter of urgency. My Department will be in touch with the Deputy when the information is to hand.
