Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputies for raising it, as I am provided with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people generally and, in particular, to the important area of developing day and respite care. Government policy in respect of older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where appropriate. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

The Government's objective of continued development of community-based services for older people is reflected in the funding given to the system in recent times. Since 2006, just over €500 million additional funding has been invested in long-term care supports for older people. This includes the largest ever investment, in excess of €200 million, specifically to develop community care services. These measures have been designed to enhance services already put in place by the Government and to widen the range of services available to older people. In this context, more than €16 million has been provided in the past three years for new day and respite care services. An extra €1.1 million in 2008 allowed for 345 new places, bringing the total provision to approximately 21,500 places.

The HSE has committed through the National Service Plan 2009 to delivering services within its Vote provided by the Oireachtas. It will manage the provision of respite care beds at Cherry Orchard Hospital within this context, taking account of the priority the Government and the HSE have given to services for older people. Cherry Orchard Hospital has a complement of 262 places, comprising 192 for elderly care, 35 for young chronic sick and 17 for persons with HIV or AIDS.

The summer is the peak leave period for hospital staff. When this is combined with a significant number of staff absent on parental leave, it is difficult to maintain the full range of services throughout the summer. Cherry Orchard Hospital is making arrangements to ensure that all commitments to those availing of these services and their families are maintained during the coming months. Measures have been taken to ensure that all commitments for respite care are met to ensure that no one receiving respite care or their family is left without a service.

The HSE is conscious of the importance of the respite facility of Cherry Orchard Hospital. The latter is identifying suitable private providers that will be in a position to provide respite places to overcome the challenges faced over the annual leave period. The balance of the respite service will continue to be provided in the hospital.

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