Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to address the inadequacies of residential services, both in nursing homes and in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3076/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The development of Services for Older People is a priority for the Government. This is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in Budgets 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2006, the Government a significant expansion of services for older people with a full year cost of €150m. In 2007 a full year package of €255m was allocated for services for older people. Budget 2008 provided an additional €135m bringing the total spend over the last three years to €540m.

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.

During the period from 2005 to 2007 the Health Service Executive secured 1,995 private contract beds. A further 200 private contract beds will be made available in the early part of 2008. These 200 contract beds, together with 100 new public beds due to come on stream early this year in St. Marys in the Phoenix Park, will result in an additional 300 beds being made available in the near term. The public fast-track initiative provided for 860 new public beds by the end of 2008. This work commenced in 2007 and is continuing throughout 2008.

Home Care Packages are an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are used to maintain an older person at home via additional supports and therapy services. They are designed to be flexible and are particularly targeted at those at risk of admission to long-term care, inappropriate admission to acute hospital or requiring discharge home from acute hospital. The Packages are playing an increasing role in supporting people to remain in their own homes and communities. Over the years 2006 and 2007, additional funding of over €110m was made available to develop the Home Care Package initiative.

Budget 2008 provided an additional €22m revenue funding for a range of community based service initiatives including:

360 new Home Care Packages, benefiting and estimated 800 people

over 200,000 additional Home-Help Hours

Approx. 1,000 additional Day/Respite places

Enhanced supports at national level for voluntary groups working on delivering services in partnership with the HSE