Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to lift the restriction which does not allow local health executives to exceed the ceiling on wholetime equivalent appointments, which is stopping local health executives from appointing additional home help assistants, who are required to restore home help hours which have been cut back or to allow for the provision of extra home help hours where necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4551/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Health Service Executives cannot employ any extra home help assistants due to the fact that they would breach the ceiling on appointment of whole time equivalent staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4552/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the meaning of public sector pay and employment policies which is preventing the Health Service Executives in local areas appointing home help assistants even where these assistants are urgently needed to provide necessary home help services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4553/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together.

Public sector pay and employment policies do not prevent the Health Service Executive from appointing home helps or staff at any other grade. The policies to which I refer include the social partnership agreements, adherence to approved employment levels and the management of human resources, including staffing mix, in line with service needs and overall policies. It is a matter for the HSE to deliver its service plan priorities in line with such policies and the funding available. As a general principle, employment levels for the health service are adjusted to take account of approved service developments. As I indicated to the Deputy in response to a previous question, the Department of Health and Children has allocated an additional €30 million to the home help service in 2006, which will allow for the development of the service. That funding will provide for an additional 1.75 million home help hours in 2006 and not 1.6 million as I previously advised the Deputy.