Bernard Allen
Ceist:172 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to expand the Home Relief Service/Care Attendance scheme.
Written Answers. - Home Care Scheme.
In the Budget Statement in January of this year, the Minister for Finance announced that an additional £5 million would be made available to the health services to strengthen services for the elderly, at home and in the community. This additional funding has enabled health boards to make considerable progress this year towards implementing the recommendations of The Years Ahead as regards strengthening home and community services. The boards have informed me that they are using the additional funds to expand home nursing and home help services including the provision of a care attendant scheme, to provide respite care, day centres and hospitals, to increase the number of physiotherapists and speech therapists in the community and to develop services for the elderly with dementia.