Michael Finucane
Ceist:221 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health the hourly rate for home helps paid by the different health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14060/97]
Written Answers. - Home Help Pay.
The rates of pay for part-time home helps in each health board is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Rate of Pay per hour for part-time Home Helps |
|
Eastern Health Board |
£2.00-£4.00 |
|
Midland Health Board |
£3.50 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
£2.73 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
£2.00 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
£3.06-£5.33 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
£2.00 |
|
Southern Health Board |
£1.40* |
|
Western Health Board |
£2.20 |
*Rates of pay presently under review.
The issue of payment for part-time home helps has been raised on a number of occasions in the recent past. As the Deputy will be aware, the rate of remuneration varies considerably throughout the country. The rates are determined by the particular requirements and the type of task undertaken in individual cases. It is a matter for each health board to decide on 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 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. It is my intention to make further progress in this regard when resources permit.