Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 774: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that recipients of home help in some health board areas are still being required to make private financial contributions directly to home help staff to retain the service; and the plans she has to introduce legislation to end this practice or otherwise ensure that the service is provided as a fully free public service. [29827/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Under Section 61 of the Health Act 1970, the HSE may make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of a sick or infirm person or a dependent of such person either, as the chief executive officer may determine in each case, without charge or at such charge as s/he considers appropriate.

Prior to the establishment of the HSE, varying practices had developed in relation to the operation of the Home Help service across the country. The HSE has informed the Department that it has established a working group, which is currently addressing all issues relating to the Home Help service with the aim of standardising the operation of the service across all areas. The HSE has further advised that it is aware that in some areas there is a history of clients contributing towards the overall cost of the service and it will shortly be finalising proposals to standardise eligibility across all HSE areas.