Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this matter which I know is very dear to her heart. On my recent visit to County Donegal I became acquainted with the successful telephone service project, "Good Morning Inishowen". I met Deputy Blaney that day and both the Minister of State, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coughlan, have also contacted me on this matter.

I reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people. The development of services for older people is a high priority. This is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in the budgets for 2006 and 2007. In 2006 the Government funded the largest ever expansion in services for older people with a full year cost of €150 million. In the 2007 budget, a full year package of €255 million was allocated for services for older people. In the budget today for 2008, the Minister for Finance announced details of further funding allocated to the health services which includes even more investment in services for older people. The budget provides an additional €396 million for the health Vote group which includes €135 million for older people. A total of €25 million of this is targeted at community supports. In total, over the past three budgets, €535 million has been added to services for older people.

Government policy relating to older people is to support people 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.

"Good Morning Inishowen" is a telephone link line service for older people which has been operational in Inishowen since August 2006. The service is due to commence in the Cloghaneely area on 10 December 2007 and in the south Donegal area in early 2008. The service is fully staffed by volunteer telephone operators who commit to approximately three hours each week. Approximately 120 older people are in receipt of a call approximately three days each week, but this will increase to five days early next year. Volunteers check that the older person is safe and well and also update them on any other services they might avail of in the area. They also assist with any queries. This service complements the work of the public health nurses and home support workers in helping older people who choose to stay in their own home.

The present situation in Donegal is as follows. The two-year INTERREG III A funding ceased on 30 November 2007, the Health Service Executive has agreed to pay the co-ordinator's salary for the period from December 2007 to December 2008, CAWT has sourced €15,000 which will sustain the service until 31 March 2008, the service requires €108,000 to operate for one year in Inishowen, Cloghaneely and south Donegal, and the management committee is looking at all other funding options, including corporate and community agencies in the three service areas.

As the Senator is aware, the Health Act 2004 provided the Health Service Executive with 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 into 2008 is a matter for the HSE in accordance with the overall priorities for particular services as set out in its service plan for the coming year.

I undertake to contact Mr. John Hayes, the local area health manager, to ensure the additional funding which will be approved by the Government later tonight will be channelled into the north west area and specifically to the "Good Morning Inishowen" project. I will make a firm request for that funding in support of this excellent service.