Vol. 490 No. 3
17 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the role of the home help scheme; the effect participation in such schemes has on social welfare benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10032/98]
The valuable role which is played by home helps in the overall care of older people in this country is widely recognised. As the Deputy will be aware, the home help service is operated by the health boards who come under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. His Department has arranged to have an examination of the home-help services carried out by an independent body, under the supervision of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, to advise on how the services can be developed in a cost-effective way in tandem with the other community based services. I understand that this review is expected to be completed by early summer. The Minister for Health and Children will, on receipt of the report, give consideration to how best to bring about improvements on the overall organisation and development of the home help service.
In so far as entitlement to social welfare payments is concerned, the position is that any income deriving from participation in the home help service is not in general taken into account for the purposes of determining entitlement to means-tested social welfare payments.
