asked the Minister for Health if some health boards pay a care allowance, at an hourly rate, to persons who may leave their homes to care for old age pensioners living alone.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Care Allowance.
23.
I assume that this question is related to the operation of the home help service which is administered by health boards on the basis of giving priority to (a) families with young children who otherwise would have to be maintained in institutions and (b) the aged, especially those living alone.
Health boards employ home helps themselves at agreed rates of remuneration, or they reimburse clients who make personal arrangements for employing home helps, or they subsidise voluntary agencies who undertake to provide home help services on their behalf.
Deputies will be aware that special provision was made in this year's budget for the allocation of an extra £500,000 to area health boards for expansion of community welfare services, including the home help service.