Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and I thank Senator Norris for raising this issue. It provides me with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people and explain the current position regarding funding for Choices Local Enterprises.

The development of services for older people is a priority for this Government. This is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in the budgets of 2006 and 2007. Last year, the Government funded the largest ever expansion in services for older people with a full-year cost of €150 million, and this year, a full-year package of €255 million has been allocated for services for older people. This gives a total of more than €400 million added to services for older people over two years.

Government policy on older people is to support them to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this is not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

As the Senator is aware, the Health Act 2004 gave the Health Service Executive, HSE, responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. As a corporate body, the provision of these services, including the delivery of services by agreement with voluntary and community organisations, is a matter for the HSE.

Funding for health services has been provided as part of the HSE's overall Vote for health and personal social services in 2007. The allocation of resources is a matter for the HSE in accordance with the overall priorities for specific services as set out in its service plan. The HSE is more than happy to meet Choices Local Enterprises to discuss the services it provides and it has advised that two appointments were made for this discussion but, unfortunately, on both occasions these meetings were cancelled. However, renewed efforts are being made to organise a meeting that is convenient to the organisation.

I understand that Choices Local Enterprises is also considering applying to the HSE for lottery funding. It is aware that its application should be submitted by Friday, 16 March 2007.

The Department of Health and Children also provides funding to voluntary organisations under a national lottery funded grant scheme. This funding is discretionary, and if Choices Local Enterprises wishes to make an application for funding, it should contact the finance unit of the Department of Health and Children.

A meeting will be arranged with the HSE and there are possible sources of funding for the group, including lottery funding from the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. I again thank the Senator for raising this matter and hope it can be resolved.