Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to ease the dependence on voluntary contributions that one third of home care staff rely on in spite of Government commitments to fully fund core staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15447/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I fully appreciate the valuable role played by the home help service in enabling people who might otherwise need institutional care to remain in their own homes. I do not deny that home helps were poorly paid in the past and that this was not acceptable. However, the rate of pay and the conditions of employment for home helps have significantly improved since 2000. Home helps are paid in accordance with the agreed pay scale, €25,590 to €28,451 per annum, or pro rata thereof for part-time staff. The Health Service Executive acknowledges that prior to 2000, small contributions were made due to the low level of pay. However, since improved and standardised pay has been introduced this is no longer a factor. I understand from the Health Service Executive that there has been no recent issue or evidence to support the statement by the Deputy that there is a dependence on voluntary contributions.

I am advised that the appropriate hours of care for clients requiring home help services are determined following a clinical assessment. I have ensured that significant additional funding has been provided to the HSE for home help services this year. An additional €33 million full year cost was allocated to the home help programme in budget 2006, €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.