Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I understand Senators are concerned that there should be transparency regarding the level of funding committed to the scheme in each financial year. A dedicated subhead has been established within the overall HSE Vote for the purposes of the scheme. Subhead B16 would then be part of Vote 40. As such, the funding made available for the scheme will always be ring-fenced and will be clearly identifiable within the Revised Estimates of public expenditure. The funding within the subhead will be subject to careful monitoring and the Department of Health and Children has already agreed a set of reporting requirements in this regard.

Furthermore, under section 31 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE has to prepare and submit a service plan. The Minister has stipulated that the service plan must report on the numbers of people provided with support under the scheme and the current plan already reflects this within its performance activity targets for services for older people. In addition, the HSE will also have to include in its annual report any information that may be specified by the Minister for Health and Children.

I do not propose to accept amendment No. 4 due to the range of reporting and monitoring mechanisms already in place and I hope the measures I have outlined will address the concerns of the Senators.