Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding home care packages for the elderly on the north side of Dublin; and the reason these are without additional staff. [13981/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question refers 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.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she is taking to ensure that elderly people without sufficient means are able to avail of nursing home care whether in a private nursing home or otherwise; the steps she is taking to ensure the availability of nursing home places for such people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13982/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and I regard the support of older people to stay in their own homes and communities as a key policy priority, thereby moving away from the practice of placing people in residential care as a first option. This is the expressed wish of the majority of our older people. Additional funding has been allocated for services for older people and palliative care amounting to €150 million in budget 2006, with €110 million allocated for 2006 and €40 million more for 2007. The investment package is a major step in focusing new resources on home care first and foremost, while still supporting appropriate residential care.

For those who require residential care, the nursing home subvention scheme was introduced in 1993 on foot of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the regulations made thereunder to give some financial assistance towards the cost of private nursing home care. It was never intended that the scheme would subsidise the full costs of private nursing home care. The Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 are administered by the Health Service Executive. There are currently three rates of subvention payable, €114.30, €152.40 and €190.50 for the three levels of dependency, medium, high and maximum, respectively.

The HSE has discretion to pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency where, for example, personal funds are exhausted. The application of these provisions to an individual case is a matter for the HSE in the context of meeting increasing demands for subvention and is subject to the provisions of the Health Act 2004. The average rate of subvention paid by the HSE generally exceeds the current approved basic rates. Additional funding of €20 million was provided for the administration of the nursing home subvention scheme in 2006, bringing the total available budget to €160 million. This additional funding will help to ensure the consistent delivery of the subvention scheme nationwide and will help to eliminate any discrepancies in the scheme.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and Minister Séamus Brennan established a working group to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care. The report of the working group on the future financing of long-term care has been presented to the Government and is currently being considered by the Cabinet.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her policy for caring for the aged in their own homes and in short and long-term care; the resources she provided in 2004 and 2005 for this purpose; if the amount will be increased in 2006; the number of persons supported in each of the above categories during 2004 and 2005 and anticipated in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13985/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and I regard the support of older people to stay in their own homes and communities as a key policy priority, with appropriate residential care provided where necessary. This marks a move away from the practice of placing people in residential care as a first option and is in line with the expressed wish of the majority of our older people. This Government is committed to developing the various community and home support schemes, which are vital to maintain older people in their own homes for as long as possible. An investment package of an additional €150 million has been put in place in budget 2006 for services for older people and palliative care, with €110 million allocated for 2006 and a further €40 million for 2007. This is the largest ever increase in funding for services for older people and palliative care. Reflecting the new emphasis on home and day care, almost three quarters or €109 million of the full year costs are being committed to community care supports, including home care packages, €55 million; the home help service, €33 million; sheltered housing, €1 million; and day and respite care, €9 million.

Additional funding of €20 million was also provided for the administration of the nursing home subvention scheme in 2006, bringing the total available budget to €160 million. This additional funding will help to ensure the consistent delivery of the subvention scheme nationwide.

The following figures are taken from the Revised Book of Estimates for 2004-06.

With regard to the section of the question on the number of people supported by each of the categories mentioned, the Deputy's question refers 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.

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement in response to the concerns of an active retirement association (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [13986/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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A working group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs was established last year to examine issues relating to the financing of long-term care. This was to take account of the Mercer report on the future financing of long-term care in Ireland, which was commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the review of the nursing home subvention scheme by Professor Eamon O'Shea. This group presented its report to the Government and it is now under consideration. The objective of the group was to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, including improvements in community care. In the context of that report, the Health Service Executive have been asked as a matter of urgency to assess the long-term residential care capacity needs of older people.