James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is currently in the Seanad dealing with equality legislation so I will take this question. The Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This is reflected in the HSE service plan for 2012, which includes various community-based services such as mainstream home help, enhanced home care packages, meals on wheels and day or respite care.

These services meet the preferred wishes of many vulnerable older people and reduce pressures elsewhere in the wider care system. Demand for them will increase as the demographics and complex needs of older people change.

The Health Service Executive has developed various operational initiatives to improve nationally its approach to all relevant aspects of its home support services. These include new guidelines for home care and a new procurement framework for approved agencies providing services on its behalf. While ongoing developments have been designed to standardise and maximise the use of limited resources, they also promote quality, safety and equity for providers and care recipients alike. Approximately 100,000 people or 20% of the population aged more than 65 years receive some form of HSE community based supports each year, including home, day and respite care.

I will provide some figures on the outturn for the 2012 target for mainstream home help. Between 2006 and 2011, the number of home help hours provided by the State increased from 8 million to 11.1 million, while the 2012 target for home help hours was 10.7 million. The number of clients benefiting as at 31 December each year has increased from 49,578 in 2006 to 54,000 in 2007, 55,000 in 2008 and 2009, 54,000 in 2010, 50,986 in 2011 and 50,000 in 2012. Funding increased from €185 million to €211 million last year and €205 million will be provided to the service this year. It is our intention to maintain the budget for 2012 in 2013.

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