Helen Keogh
Ceist:55 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health if pressure on hospital services could be reduced by extending the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/97]
Written Answers. - Carer's Allowance.
Limerick East): First, I would like to point out that the administration of the carer's allowance scheme is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.
However, from the information available to me it appears that extending the carer's allowance scheme would not reduce the pressure on the acute hospital sector. Such pressure can best be eased by the provision of sub-acute accommodation. Accordingly, this winter I have provided £2.75 million to ease the pressure on the acute hospital sector in the following way: an additional 30 beds in nursing homes; a new 25 bed community nursing unit in Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital; 17 extra beds in Leopardstown Park Hospital; 25 extra beds for the elderly in Peamount Hospital; 25 beds for the young chronically disabled in Peamount Hospital; 6 new community ward teams for the elderly; additional beds in acute hospitals; and a public education campaign on the appropriate use of accident and emergency departments.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that arrangements are well under way to put these initiatives in place and indeed, some of the facilities are already in operation. I would also like to point out that this is the largest package of measures put in place by any Minister for Health to deal with the relief of the winter problems of the acute hospitals and I am confident that it will provide much needed relief.