Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that provision is made in the health estimates for the provision for the payment of the Cúram home care grant to those who were awarded the grant but have not been paid; her plans to continue the grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31714/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Home care packages, which include home care cash grants, such as a Cúram Home Care Grant Scheme, are designed to facilitate timely discharge of older people from acute hospitals; reduce inappropriate admissions; and support older people to continue to live in their own community.

In the first instance, use of mainstream community services are maximised to support and maintain the older person at home. If further services are assessed as being required, some of these services may be provided through the home care package scheme. Referral for a home care package can be made by any health professional, whether community or hospital based. The decision to allocate a home care package is based on the assessment of needs of the individual and the identification of any assessed needs, which are not being met by mainstream services, together with consideration of the appropriateness of care in the community in the individual case.

Home care packages are, therefore, an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are designed to enhance rather than replace the existing home support services. The scheme is designed to be flexible and in particular targeted at those who may otherwise require admission to long term care from community, inappropriate admission to acute hospital or requiring discharge to home from acute hospital.

The HSE is in the process of finalising National Home Care Packages Guidelines which, when issued, will standardise the process of assessment of patients living in the community requiring such care. Any person who has been awaiting a Cúram home care grant is being offered mainstream services to address their specific, current requirements.

About 1,100 home care packages were in place at the end of 2005. By the end of 2006 a total of 2,000 additional home care packages will have been provided. These additional packages will support more than 2,000 persons, as some people will only require a home care package on a temporary basis. The additional funding to support the provision of these additional packages amounts to €55m in a full year — €30m of which has been allocated in 2006 and the remaining €25m will be available in 2007, when the packages will be available on a full year basis. This clearly shows the Government's focus on keeping people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and this continues to be the priority in the Department.