Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason only €25 million, or 8% of the additional health spending announced in Budget 2008 will be invested on community care initiatives for older people, despite widespread concerns regarding regional problems in accessing home care packages, home help hours and day and respite places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2050/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Over the three years 2006-8 inclusive, unprecedented levels of funding, in the region of €215 million, have been provided for new community-based service initiatives associated with Older Persons. The recent Budget provided significant additional overall funding of €344 million current and €52 million capital to meet a range of new priority initiatives this year, including:

€135 m for the introduction of the new long term residential care scheme — "A Fair Deal" and for complementary community supports for Older People;

€50 m for people with Disabilities

€29 m for cancer services, to bring total new cancer funding in 2008 to €35m; and

€12m for innovative service delivery projects.

This new funding, combined with the pre-Budget Estimates, means that the HSE will receive a total underlying increase of almost 9% in 2008 to improve public health services overall.

Despite the many competing demands for new service developments across all areas of our public health system, and the changing economic circumstances generally in recent times within which we all have to plan and operate, I consider that the additional €25 million made available this year for enhanced community-based services for Older People is indeed significant. This funding initiative will enable the Health Service Executive to improve access to these services and provide, for example:

€ 10 million for 360 extra Home Care Packages, which should benefit around 800 people, thus bringing the total number of packages available to over 4,700 by year end.

€5 million towards an extra 200,000 Home Help hours and allow 220 new clients avail of an expanded "Meals-on-Wheels" service.

€3.6 million towards the provision of over 340 Day Care places and over 1,200 new clients for Respite Care.

€2 million for enhanced supports at national level for voluntary groups delivering much needed services in partnership with the HSE.

€3 million towards improved service provision for Palliative Care, particularly for regions in need of greatest improvement.

The implementation by the HSE of this important new funding initiative will be closely monitored by the Department during the course of the year.