Vol. 475 No. 6
93 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the level of funding to the home help services in each health board area for each of the years from 1994 to 1996; if he has satisfied himself that these services are adequately funded; the additional funding, if any, which is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5533/97]
Limerick East): As the information sought regarding the level of funding for the home help service in each health board area for each of the years 1994-96 is not readily available in my Department, I have asked the health boards to supply same and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is a matter for each health board to decide the level of home help services required and the level of payment to be made in respect of these services. The chief executive officer of each health board is in the best position to decide on these issues as my Department has no involvement in the day-to-day management of the service. However, I would like to point out to the Deputy that my Department has allocated additional funding to three of the health boards this year for the purpose of increasing the rates of payment to home helps.
In response to a previous question from the Deputy on this issue I stated that the Department in consultation with the chief executive officers of the health boards has under active consideration a number of aspects of the home help scheme, including the overall organisation of the service and the diversity of arrangements which exist within the health boards for the provision of this service.
A discussion document submitted by the chief executive officers group formed the basis for this examination of the home help services. Following on from these discussions, my Department decided to have an examination of the operation of the home help services carried out by an independent body which will advise on how the services can be developed in a cost effective way in tandem with the other community based services. Following receipt of tenders for this review, the contract has been awarded and the work will commence shortly. It is expected that the review will be completed before the end of the year.
