David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the financial thresholds pertaining to the provision of home help to elderly persons in the various Health Service Executive areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2460/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 483: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if older persons with medical cards are automatically entitled to home help assistance if a medical need exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2461/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Under the Health Act 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Persons aged 70 years and over are automatically entitled to a medical card, irrespective of means. Medical card holders are eligible for the following services: general practitioner services provided under the general medical service scheme; approved prescribed drugs and medicines; inpatient public hospital services in public wards, including consultant services; outpatient public hospital services including consultant services; dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances; and maternity and infant care scheme.

All other health and personal social services, including home help assistance, can be provided by the Health Service Executive subject to the availability of resources, and having regard to the needs of individual cases. The HSE has discretion, in cases of exceptional need, to provide assistance to individuals where undue hardship would otherwise be caused. An additional €33 million was allocated for the home help service in the 2006 budget, €30 million in 2006 and a further €3 million in 2007. This additional funding will provide 1.75 million more home help hours.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 484: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of people receiving home help assistance in each of the Health Service Executive areas in each of the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005; the budget provision for home help assistance in each of these years in each of the Health Service Executive areas; her plans to increase home help assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2462/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

The Deputy may wish to note that an additional €30 million was allocated to the home help service for 2006 which will allow for the development of the service and the provision of an additional 1.6 million home help hours.