Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 2

Written Answers. - Home Help Service.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

163 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to increase the numbers and level of home helps available in the Eastern Health Board area; if the number available has declined in the past few years; if his attention has been drawn to the grow ing concern at lack of home helps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

The level of home help service provided is a matter in the first instance for the relevant health board. Home helps are employed in the Eastern Health Board area by home help organisations and by the board itself. The board has indicated that the level of service is generally being maintained at 1998 levels, although it is finding it more difficult to recruit home helps which has resulted in waiting lists in some areas. Cases are prioritised, with a speedy response to severe-heavy cases, upon the recommendation of a public health nurse. The following table shows the number of home helps employed in the Eastern Health Board since 1995.

	Employed by Home Help Organisations	Employed by Eastern Health Board	Total
1995	3,240	708	3,948
1996	3,201	711	3,912
1997	3,367	715	4,082
1998	3,260	718	3,978

The important role played by home helps in the care of older people is widely recognised and there is growing demand for the home help service to be better organised and developed. In this regard, my Department commissioned an examination of the future organisation of the home help service in Ireland by the policy research centre of the National College of Ireland under the direction of the national council on ageing and older people. This report has been published and is being considered by the health boards and my Department with a view to early implementation. Any difficulties that have arisen in the operation of the service will be examined as part of this process.

As part of the implementation of the recommendations of the report, additional funding was made available this year to enable the home help service to be improved. The additional funding provided to boards, including the Eastern Health Board, may be used for additional home helps or additional hours. Resources have also been provided in the current year to increase the minimum rate of payment for all home helps as part of a phased improvement in the rate of payment for home helps, the remaining phases of which it is hoped to implement as resources permit. It is hoped that this will help to relieve difficulties in recruiting home helps.