Dominic Hannigan
Ceist:352 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health and Children the current criteria being applied when reducing home help hours. [12419/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 May 2011
Ceisteanna (323)
Freagraí scríofa
Government policy is to support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as possible. This is realised through a range of community based supports provided by the Health Service Executive, including the Home Help service.
There has been no reduction in the overall funding to the Executive for the Home Help service for 2011 compared to last year. As per the Service Plan agreed for the current year, the Executive is committed to providing nearly 12 million Home Help hours nationally to around 54,000 clients. It is a matter for the Executive, who has operational responsibility to provide the service nationally, to also manage the service at local or individual level. This may involve changing service provision by Local Health Offices, to meet evolving service priorities or other circumstances over the course of the year. I have sought more detail from the Executive, in relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, and will revert with a final response as soon as possible.