Vol. 567 No. 1
311 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in the Western Health Board area who were getting home help in 2002; the number of persons who lost their home help in 2002; the number who have lost home help hours in the past year; the number of people who were in receipt of home help as at 30 April 2002 and 2003; and the total hours of home help provided on those bases. [13474/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in the west is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has made inquiries from the chief executive officer of the board, in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy, and has been advised as follows:
Western Health Board
|
Numbers receiving home help in 2002 |
3.225 (average) |
|
Number who lost home help in 2002 and 2003 |
53 per month (average) |
|
Number in receipt of home help as at 30/4/02 |
3,284 |
|
Number in receipt of home help as at 30/4/03 |
3,318 |
|
Average number of home help hours provided per week in 2003 |
73,246 |
312 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is only being provided with one hour home help per week; his further views on whether this is a reasonable level of home help; if the case of this person will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13475/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, the responsibility for the provision of the home help service in the Mayo area rests with Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him, as a matter of urgency.
