Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of funding made available by her Department to the Health Service Executive for home care packages in the Dublin catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35363/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that, in Budget 2006, an investment package of €150 million was announced for additional services for Older People and Palliative Care. This package included €55 million for the rolling out of 2,000 additional Home Care Packages. €30 million of this was for 2006, with the remaining €25m for 2007. Of this €30 million, a total of €3.6 million was allocated to the former Northern Area Health Board area, based on the percentage of the population aged over 65.

Home Care Packages are delivered through the HSE and consist of a mixture of grants, contracted care services, therapeutic input, equipment and other such community services as determined by a needs assessment to facilitate an older person to remain living in their own home. They vary according to the care needs of the person so that, for example, there might be a greater emphasis in some packages on home care assistance while other packages may require a greater level of therapy and nursing.