Mary Butler
Question:100. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if extra funding will be provided in 2018 for the provision of home care and home help at weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48190/17]
View answerWednesday, 15 November 2017
Questions (100)
Written answers
The overall funding for services for older people in 2017 is €765m. This includes about €373m for the direct provision of home care. The HSE’s National Service Plan provides for a target of 10.57 million Home Help Hours, 16,750 Home Care Packages and 190 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with highly complex needs.
In budget 2018 a further €37 million has been made available for older people services, comprising €5m once-off funding in 2017 and €32 million next year, to further strengthen supports for older people, particularly to facilitate speedier discharge from acute hospitals over the winter period. A significant proportion of this additional funding will go towards home care services.