Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the home supports available in the Dublin area to older people who require a level of support; the level of home care packages available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35366/06]

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

At the 30th of September 2006, a total of some 900 Home Care Packages were being delivered in the former Northern Area Health Board area, 700 of which commenced since the 1st of January this year.

Home Care Packages are delivered to persons either to facilitate their earlier discharge from an acute hospital, or to prevent admission to acute hospitals or long term residential care, where this is not necessary. The level of service to be provided is based on an overall assessment of the applicant's medical and social care needs, and the family or other supports available to the applicant, which determines the suitability of the applicant for care in the home. Home care packages 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.