The home help service in this country was established under section 61 of the Health Act 1970 and became operative in 1972 when circular 11/72 was sent to the chief executive officer of each health board. Section 61 of the Health Act 1970 states that a health board "may make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of certain categories of people". Broad guidelines were then drawn up by the health board chief executive officers in order that the scheme could be administered in a flexible manner.
The increase in expenditure on home help services since the year 2000 is 113.59%. The level of funding allocated to this service is determined by each health board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority from within their overall financial determination. In addition, my Department allocates, from time to time, specific additional funding to improve the level of home help service provided and, also, the pay of home helps. This has happened, in recent years, as follows: