Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the additional financial provisions provided by her Department from the 2008 Estimates and budget for the care and support costs for voluntary housing associations providing sheltered housing for older people, following the previous finance provided for an additional €1 million for the combined years of 2006 and 2007 that she previously announced as part of the care package for older people in November 2005; her views on whether the current financial commitment of less than €2 million for the whole country or €1 per day for an older person living in sheltered housing represents a real commitment providing support for the care costs in sheltered housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34997/07]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Government policy in relation to older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this is not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

The focus in Budget 2008 was to ensure continued improvements in the key area of community and home-based services. In this regard an additional package of €22m has been allocated for community initiatives including an additional €1.1m allocated to progress the development of sheltered housing for older people.

The Deputy may be aware that earlier this year the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government established a Cross Departmental Team on Sheltered Housing, involving the Department of Health and Children, the HSE, Office for Social Inclusion and the local authorities. The Cross Departmental Team will, in conjunction with the Office of the Minister for Older People, develop and oversee policy in relation to sheltered housing provision for older people and agree protocols for integrated management and delivery of housing and related care services. The establishment of the Cross Departmental Team forms part of an overall strategic response to the housing needs of older people, as outlined in the Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, which was published earlier this year.