Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2007
165 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children if a family is in receipt of the home care grant for a parent, if they have to register as an employer to avail of this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4498/07]
View answerOperational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
166 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in each county who applied for a home care grant; the number of applicants who received this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4499/07]
View answerOperational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
167 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the home care grant is means tested; if this provision is not essentially about care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4500/07]
View answerHome Care Packages (HCP) including Home Care Cash Grants and are designed to facilitate timely discharge of older people from acute hospitals; reduce inappropriate admission; reduce pressure on A&E departments and support older people to continue to live in their own community. In the first instance use of mainstream community services are maximized to support and maintain the older person at home. If further services are assessed as being required these services may be provided through the Home Care Package Scheme. The decision to allocate a Home Care Package is based on the assessment of needs of the individual and the identification of any assessed needs which are not being met by mainstream services together with consideration of the appropriateness of care in the community in the individual case. Home Care Packages are therefore an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are designed to enhance rather than replace existing home support services. The scheme is designed to be flexible and is particularly targeted at those at risk of admission to long term care from the community, inappropriate admission to acute hospital or requiring discharge to home from acute hospital.
During 2006, following discussions with the Department and the Health Service Executive, draft guidelines were drawn up for the standardised implementation of Home Care Packages (including cash grants) across the HSE. These guidelines are currently the subject of detailed discussion between the HSE and the Department and it is intended that a document will be concluded shortly in line with the agreed approach being taken. Thereafter, a standardised approach will be rolled out across the health system. In the meantime Home Care Packages will continue to be provided in line with existing arrangements in individual local health office areas.
An additional €110 million has been allocated to the home care package scheme in the past two years. This represents the largest ever increase in the funding for this scheme. However, this increased funding does not mean that everyone is entitled to a home care package, regardless of their means. The cost of this scheme, as with all health services, has to be met from within the budget allocated, and the financial assessment of applicants ensures that the services are targeted at those most in need.
