Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 749: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 on 8 June 2006, the progress to date of the high level working group in progressing the issues pertaining to the standardisation of the home help service including the issuing of contracts of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29438/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The work of the high level review group, comprised of representatives from the Health Service Executive, SIPTU and IMPACT, has completed two phases of data gathering focusing on the following:

1. Home Help Organisers — an assessment exercise to establish the level of service provided to clients in each of the Health Service Executive areas and the voluntary sector.

2. Home Helps — an assessment of the level of implementation of the 2004 Home Help Agreement including ascertaining the availability of employment records for Superannuation purposes.

Following on from this exercise, the group are currently developing a national contract of employment for home help workers. In addition, a model for the delivery of home help services will be developed by the HSE for consideration and agreement by the representative group. It is intended that this model will provide for appropriate structures to allow for the co-ordination and delivery of a standardised level of home help service to the public.

I have been advised by the HSE that the implementation of the above, together with the issuing of contracts of employment for home helps, are contingent on the co-operation of all appropriate grades of staff and, in particular, the home help organisers (represented by IMPACT) who are currently in dispute with the Health Service Executive because of their non co-operation with the introduction of home care packages, increases in current service levels and changes in work practices.

Should this non co-operation continue or indeed escalate, it will result in delays to implementing the required changes to enable the delivery of a standardised service to clients.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 750: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself that the diabetic services in the west of Ireland are adequate in view of the fact that people in the region have the highest prevalence of diabetes; her plans to develop the existing services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29439/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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, my 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.