Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I will take this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

A keystone of the Government's policy on older people is to support them to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. To cater for the needs of older people the Government has invested heavily in this important area, resulting in significant service improvements in community supports in recent years. In budgets 2006 and 2007, funding of more than €400 million was provided to enhance service developments across the sector. Of this sum, €190 million was specifically earmarked for community-based services. This covered, for example, home helps, home care packages, day-respite care, meals on wheels and sheltered housing initiatives at regional and local level.

With regard to day and respite care, an additional €9 million was provided in 2006 for a wide range of new and increased services at local level, including improved therapy services for specific needs. A further €3.5 million was provided the following year, which allowed the Health Service Executive provide in excess of 21,000 day places in 2007.

I am informed by the HSE that it is committed to providing high quality services to the population of Laois-Offaly and has committed €1.79 million to day care services in the area this year. In this context, all services are subject to constant monitoring and review bearing in mind the executive's requirement to keep expenditure levels within budget.

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