James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 261: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise development of hospice services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26779/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 275: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to continue to implement measures to ensure the availability of real alternatives to hospital for persons who require lengthy convalescence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26793/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 277: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to help local and voluntary organisations to establish and run community based facilities that will provide the care services necessary to support older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26795/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a community led pilot scheme to counter the social isolation of the elderly in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26797/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 280: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to provide for ten new 50 bed community nursing units in the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26798/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 282: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to expand the system of inspection to ensure more comprehensive and regular inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26800/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 284: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to remove the regional disparities in the provision and funding of palliative care; her views on the fact that dedicated Government funding of €18 million for palliative care was diverted by the Health Service Executive to meet deficits in other areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26802/08]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 344: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a community led pilot scheme has been commenced to counter the social isolation of older people in rural Ireland. [27223/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261, 275, 277, 279, 280, 282, 284 and 344 together.

The development of Services for Older People is a priority for the Government. Our aim 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 is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in recent Budgets and the ongoing progression of the commitments in the Programme for Government to which the Deputy has referred.

For example, over €400m additional funding was provided in Budgets 2006 and 2007, of which €190m was ear-marked for a wide range of community based initiatives such as Home Care Packages, Home Helps, Meals on Wheels and Day /Respite Care services. At the end of 2007 the HSE provided approximately:

11.8 million Home Help hours benefitting around 53,000 clients;

Over 4,000 Home Care Packages assisting some 10,500 clients;

Over 21,000 Day Care and Respite places.

In relation to Palliative Care Services and the issue of regional disparities, the HSE is developing a national 5 year Implementation Framework, which is due to be finalised shortly. This will prioritise palliative care developments nationally over this period and will inform any future allocation of development funds. It will also be reflected in the HSE National Service Plan each year. The National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care Report (2001) highlighted amongst other things, the special and specific needs of children with life limiting conditions. In 2007 the Department of Health and Children set up a Working Group to develop a policy on children's palliative care in line with the 2001 Report. The draft policy document of the Group is currently being finalised.

On the issue of diverted funding for Palliative Care the HSE have committed through the National Service Plan 2008 to delivering services within its Vote provided by the Oireachtas. There is no doubt that demand can at times exceed service resources and that this problem can manifest itself in particular at local level. It is a matter for the HSE to deliver services both nationally and locally within its budget and overall health policy priorities. However, this should not mean that new funding provided by the Government for specific service enhancements can be, as a routine budget practice, redirected to other purposes. This Government has provided an additional €2million in budget 2008 for organisations that work in partnership with the HSE to deliver services but this is now contingent on the HSE delivering overall services within its voted allocation for 2008.

The Programme for Government commitment to the expansion of Nursing Home Inspections is being progressed by the HSE's implementation of a standardised nationwide inspections process. HSE implements a standardised nationwide inspections process with a target of 2 inspections per home per year. Over 870 Nursing Home inspections (2 inspections per Nursing Home) were carried out in 2006. HSE confirms it completed 812 statutory inspections in 2007 (93% of its target), with the remainder completed in January 2008. An extra €6m was allocated for the further development of this process in 2006-2007.

The proposal to provide ten new 50 bed Community Nursing Units in the next five years is being progressed in the context of the National Development Plan. The capital and revenue implications arising from individual projects proposals fall to be reviewed each year in the context of agreeing the annual Estimates process and the Service/Capital Plans for the HSE. The public fast-track bed initiative currently underway provides for 860 new public beds. This process commenced in 2007 and will continue throughout 2008 and 2009.

The supports for minimising social exclusion among older people relates to a wide range of measures in the NDP including for example the Social Inclusion, Social Infrastructure and Human Capital Chapters. The key initiatives insofar as my Department is concerned relates to the Living at Home Sub Programme which provides for some €4.7 billion investment over the period of the Plan.

In relation to the commitment to introduce a community led pilot scheme to counter the social isolation of the elderly in rural Ireland, this scheme would not fall under the direct remit of my Department. However, the Plan which gives effect to many of the commitments contained in 'Towards 2016', recognised older people as one of the main groups at risk from social exclusion. Many of the health — related community based initiatives introduced to-date, or planned for future years underpin this objective.