Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 25 April 2006, the number of additional home help hours which will be allocated to County Kildare in 2006. [17782/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, additional funding of €150m was allocated to Services for Older People/Palliative Care in the 2006 Budget. This is a full year cost, €110m of which is for 2006 with the remaining €40m for 2007. This is the largest ever increase in funding for Services for Older People and the package has a strong focus on community based supports. Of this investment, an extra €33m (full year cost), was allocated to the Home Help Service. Of this total, a sum of €30m is provided for 2006 and will deliver approximately 1.75 million additional home help hours. 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.