I propose to take Questions Nos. 1042 and 1043 together.
In 2017, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to maximising the provision of health and personal social services, including home support services, within available resources. In its National Service Plan for 2017, the HSE is providing an additional €5.5 million towards Home Support/Personal Assistant Hours, which will enable the Executive to deliver:
- 2.75 million Home Support hours, an increase of 150,000 hours over the last year's target of 2.6 million hours; and
- 1.4 million Personal Assistance hours, an increase of 100,000 hours over the 2016 target of 1.3 million hours.
In addition, €16.2 million is being provided for new emergency cases in 2017, including a new initiative for Home Support/In-Home respite for emergency cases.
As the allocation of this funding is an operational issue I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.