Seamus Kirk
Ceist:176 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to review the home help scheme with particular reference to the amount being paid to those participating in the scheme.
Written Answers. - Home Help Scheme.
Andrew Boylan
Ceist:177 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health the measures, if any, which are being taken to have the amount of home help paid by health boards increased; his views on whether the payment rate of £1.40 per hour is adequate in 1993 when compared to what it would cost to keep the same person in a home for the elderly.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
The salary scale for full-time home helps with effect from 1 January 1993 is in the range £176.21-£186.83 per week. This scale is increased from time to time in accordance with increases granted to non-nursing personnel.
With regard to persons engaged in the home help service on a part-time basis, the position is that the rate of remuneration varies throughout the country and the rates are determined by the particular requirements and type of task undertaken in individual cases rather than on a specific rate per hour. The level of remuneration is reviewed by health boards in the context of the particular requirements and types of tasks undertaken in an individual case.
In general, the home help service is operated as a "good neighbour scheme" by volunteers who are classified as part-time home helps. The voluntary nature of the service, which involves a large element of social commitment, is underlined by the fact that a significant proportion of part-time home helps are engaged by voluntary bodies. Indeed in the Eastern Health Board area the service is provided wholly by voluntary groups.