Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding for home care packages allocated in the Health Service Executive budget for the Kildare-west Wicklow area of the HSE for 2008; the number of applications received for the home care package to date in 2008; if the number of applications is greater than the funds permit, if extra funding will be made available through her Department to meet the shortfall of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11035/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there have been changes in the amount of funding allocated to home care packages for 2008; if the amount paid to those that qualify under this scheme will remain the same as in previous years; if there have been changes in the amount of hours offered to those that qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11077/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of moneys allocated in the Health Service Executive budget for Kildare-west Wicklow for 2008; the number of applications received for home care packages for this area to date in 2008; if she is confident that a shortfall between the amount of money allocated and the number of applications received will be made available from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11078/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 73 and 74 together.

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 initiative formally commenced in 2006, following a pilot programme in 2005. Very significant funding of €110 million was provided over the years 2006 and 2007 to develop the new Home Care Package Initiative. In 2007, the Health Service Executive had put in place 4,350 packages, which benefitted in excess of 10,500 clients.

Budget 2008 provided an additional €10m for further expansion in the Home Care Package area. For 2008, the total amount allocated for Home Care Packages therefore will be €120m. This will result in a total of just over 4,700 packages, benefitting an estimated 11,500 people.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Executive in accordance with the overall priorities for particular services as set out in its Service Plan. This includes the provision of Home Care Packages at local level. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an 18 month to two-year waiting time to have clients seeking wheelchairs or other medical aids to be assessed by an occupational therapist in the Health Service Executive west area, and that this is due to a lack of staff in the occupational therapy area; the steps she will take to alleviate this serious situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/08]