Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding she has made available in 2006 for the payment of home care packages to persons being cared for at home; if she has issued guidelines to health authorities in relation to the approval of home care packages to persons being cared for at home; if she envisages that such decisions be made by hospital consultants, or by persons based in the community care teams in relation to her guidelines; her views on whether to date these packages appear to be confined to persons being discharged from hospital rather than based on an assessment of need in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18733/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste has allocated €30 million for the provision of Home Care Packages in 2006, and a further €25 million for the Scheme in 2007. At the beginning of 2006 there were approximately 1,100 Home Care Packages in place and the 2006 Budget allocation will provide an additional 2,000 extra Home Care Packages in 2006. It should also be noted that an additional €30 million has been allocated to the Home Help Service for 2006, which will provide an additional 1.75 million hours, and these additional hours will also benefit those living at home.

The remainder of 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.