Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps and funding she has provided to tackle abuse of the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28915/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the working group on elder abuse, "Protecting Our Future", was launched on 11 November 2002. One of the recommendations in the elder abuse report is the establishment of a national implementation group, which was established in December 2003. Earlier this year the Department appointed a senior policy adviser and a secretary to assist the group in its work and, more recently, the Health Service Executive appointed a senior officer to assist the group with implementation issues.

The Government is fully committed to developing the services needed to tackle elder abuse and in 2003 provided funding of €0.8 million to commence the implementation of the elder abuse programme. In 2004, an additional €75,000 was allocated to each health board for its continued implementation of the programme and this year an additional €0.9 million has been allocated for the elder abuse programme.

The Health Service Executive advised that it has implemented a number of recommendations included in the elder abuse report. These include the establishment of steering groups in each former health board area to provide a common response to elder abuse throughout the State. Steering groups comprise representatives from the public sector, private organisations and voluntary organisations, including groups for older people. Steering groups are in the process of developing clear policies and guidelines for the protection of vulnerable adults following wide consultations with staff, and progress their work through subgroups on legal aspects, policy and procedures and training.

The report recommends that a senior case worker be appointed to each former community care area and it is anticipated that the Health Service Executive will shortly recruit a senior case worker for each local health office area. Among the responsibilities of the senior case worker, in conjunction with the appropriate health service providers, will be the assessment of suspected cases of elder abuse referred to the local health office area.

The Health Service Executive has also advised that awareness training for Health Service Executive staff has been provided in line with paragraph 2.20 of the report and that it has been involved in awareness training with volunteer staff, including the national senior citizens helpline. The issue of elder abuse is being incorporated into professional training courses, including gerontology courses. A number of research projects have been undertaken, including the examination and review of medication in older persons in continuing care settings.