Vol. 535 No. 2
159 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the benefit to the economy in terms of lower health provision arising from the payment of the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12513/01]
It is the preferred wish of the majority of dependent older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and this can often be achieved by providing financial assistance to informal family carers together with some service provision by the health agencies where needed. In these circumstances, not only are family preferences acknowledged but it is accepted that there is a saving to the Exchequer, especially in cases where institutional care would otherwise have to be provided. It is very hard to quantify such saving but one must bear in mind the cost of the carer's allowance of £108 million this year and the provision by the health boards of specific assistance to carers. In this latter regard, a minimum of £4 million additional funding was provided to the health boards over the last three years in respect of specific assistance to carers. Older people living at home also benefit from the range of community-based services, which were boosted by additional funding of approximately £11 million allocated over the past three years to the health boards.
