Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

We give the Deputy good news occasionally on the Adjournment. The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the HSE which has responsibility for delivering its service plan priorities in line with the funding made available to it. I understand from the HSE that the situation at present is that there are four consultant geriatricians employed in the former Mid-Western Health Board, two in the Limerick area, one in Clare and one in Tipperary North. I also understand from the HSE that the employment of a third geriatrician in Limerick is under active consideration. We will keep the Deputy informed of any change in the situation. I realise he has taken an interest in this matter for a long time.

As the House will be aware, an investment package of €150 million in services for older people and palliative care over the years 2006-07 was announced in the recent budget. This is the largest ever increase in funding for services for older people and underlines the Government's commitment to older people and to putting them at the centre of health policy in the future.

This is a full year cost and is broken down into €110 million for this year and €40 million more for next year. This package is a developmental one and has a particular focus on care in the community, with over €100 million being provided to support home and day care, including respite care for older people.

Initiatives in this area include the development of the home care packages to enable older people to remain living in the community for as long as possible in line with their expressed wishes, an increase in the number of home help hours provided, an increase in day respite care provision, a significant increase in the resources available to the meals on wheels service, funding to support the development of sheltered housing, the further implementation of the report on elder abuse by providing for dedicated staff and a research function in this area and €4 million has been put aside for the development of proposals in the primary and community care areas which are new ways of delivering service and reflect best practice elsewhere.

The level and range of the investment package clearly shows the Government's commitment to ensuring that the care we provide for older people is of the highest possible standard and in line with their expressed wishes.

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