Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the details of an announcement she made in a recent interview in which she stated that she intends giving €200 per week to elderly patients to assist them in going home after an episode of admission in hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4212/05]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to expand on initiatives such as Slán Abhaile or Home First to assist elderly patients at home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4213/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 56 and 70 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, home care grant schemes have been piloted by the Health Services Executive in a number of areas. These schemes have been targeted at supporting older people at home in the community as an alternative to long-term residential care. Older people who are being discharged from the acute hospital system and those living in the community have been targeted under these schemes. In the HSE eastern region area, people have been discharged from acute hospitals under the Slán Abhaile and Home First pilot projects. These projects have recently been evaluated by Trinity College Dublin and the report of these evaluations has been presented to the HSE eastern regional area.

The Department has been working with the HSE to develop a national home care grant scheme. A draft of the scheme is currently being finalised by the HSE. Funding of €2 million has been allocated to the HSE in 2005 to introduce the scheme. In addition, funding of €113.75 million was allocated in 2004 to the home help service to support older people living in the community, with this funding being increased to €118.75 million in 2005 for this service.