Government policy in relation to the care of older people is to maintain them in their own homes for as long as possible. I, together with the various organisations representing the interests of older people, recognise that the role played by home helps is vital to the success of this policy. Notwithstanding this recognition, it is accepted that there are a number of issues relating to the organisation and development of home help services which need to be addressed in order to realise the full potential of this service.
My Department commissioned a report entitled "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. Following the publication of the report, I made available to the health boards in 1999 an additional sum of £1.5 million to expand and develop the home help service and provide appropriate training as recommended in the report. This sum, together with an additional £0.78 million has been repeated this year.
In further recognition of the contribution of home helps, improvements have been made to their pay and the national minimum wage of £4.40 per hour has been implemented with effect from 1 April, 2000, an increase from £3 per hour minimum in April, 1999. Negotiations are continuing, under the auspices of the Health Service Employers Agency, in respect of all aspects of status, pay and working conditions for home helps. These talks are taking place in the context of the report referred to earlier. It is envisaged that, in association with the Labour Court, all outstanding issues will be resolved by the end of this month.