Written answers

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Staff

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that an agreement between the Health Service Executive and SIPTU to abolish zero-hour contracts for home helps is implemented in full; the steps she is taking to ensure that the Health Service Executive complies with the Conditions of Employment Act 1944 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 when employing home helps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11497/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to human resource management issues within the Health Service Executive. As these are matters for the executive under the Health Act 2004, the Department of Health and Children has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have them investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

However, I am aware that a high level group has been established, with representatives from the Health Service Executive and staff representatives from SIPTU and IMPACT, to address issues pertaining to the standardisation of home help services. This group is due to have its first meeting today. An additional €33 million full-year cost was allocated to the home help programme in the last budget, €30 million of which will be for 2006 with the remaining €3 million in 2007, which will enable the Health Service Executive to provide an additional 1.75 million hours nationally in 2006. The additional resource will further enhance the service and facilitate the expressed wish of many more older people to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

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