Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are moving into specific territory, but to be as helpful as I can, I do not accept that the Government has been seeking to make it more difficult. For example, the supervisory function of HIQA has been a good introduction for the health services in general and has led to a more objective uniform standard being provided. There has been a great increase over time in the provision of home help and carers. We are seeking to maintain front line services to the greatest extent we can, but there is a budgetary reality that we must try to deal with. We certainly hope that these community based services can continue to be provided to the greatest extent possible. I do not have that information in front of me now. It is true that it has become more widely available, and that is a good thing. There is obviously pressure on budgets everywhere, given the current situation. However, I believe that this level of provision will be as good as we have seen in recent years, as a result of efforts made in other areas to find savings. That is as it should be.

Entitlements for carers have remained for those who have other sources of welfare benefit, which was an innovation that was brought forward. We brought about a situation that changed considerably from the previous administration where carer's allowance became the highest social welfare payment in the code. These are all indications of the policies put in place that show we were trying to assist those people who are caring for their families, where it is appropriate, in community-based settings or home settings. That is as it should be.

Statutory regulation has to be examined as a matter of urgency. Putting in place guidelines as a first step to invoking statutory policies needs to be done in any event. In terms of an immediate response, whatever can be done as part of a wider approach of preparing statutory instruments and so on should be done. The investigation by the HSE, which will cover everyone who is in receipt of such services and which will presumably take some time, should inform us about the best way forward.

As Deputies know, the spectrum of need varies from case to case. We started with basic home help services - good-neighbour type services - which were provided in a flexible way and were suitable for those who require care and their families. We need to make sure there is proportionality in whatever we try to do. We must provide the necessary protections, but let us not have a system that would prevent people from-----

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