David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the role her Department has in the introduction of a community led pilot scheme to counter the social isolation of the elderly in rural Ireland as per the Agreed Programme for Government; if such a scheme has been introduced; the various other supports offered by her Department to assist elderly people to remain in their homes and participate in the community, in particular in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40963/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The scheme referred to by the Deputy would not fall under the direct remit of my Department. However, the National Development 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. The supports for minimising social exclusion among older people relates to a wide range of measures in the National Development Plan, including for example the Social Inclusion, Social Infrastructure and Human Capital Priorities.

The over-arching policy of my Department and the Health Service Executive is to support older people to live at home and in their communities through a range of quality community services. 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 this regard, just over €200m new funding has been provided over the three years 2006-2008 inclusive, to develop community based initiatives nationally to enable older people to live at home and in their communities. This includes, for example,

€120m funding for Home Care Packages. The HSE will provide approximately 4,600 packages in 2008, benefiting over 11,000 people. Approximately 8,700 people are in receipt of packages at any one time. The HSE expects to provide over 4,700 packages in 2009.

€56m for expanded Home Help Services over the last three years. An estimated 54,000 clients will receive Home Help services in 2008. A revised Model of Service Delivery is also being implemented at present by the HSE throughout the country.

Some €16m additional funding has been made available for enhanced Day/Respite Care services. The total projected by the Executive provision in 2008 is around 21,000 places.

A sum of €5m between 2006-2008 for Meals on Wheels services has been allocated to complement previous levels of provision.

As the Deputy is aware operational responsibility for the management and delivery of these services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The Executive is therefore the statutory body charged with pursuing these policies and services at regional and local level.

The new Office for Older People intends to progress the Strategy on Positive Ageing, which will include consideration of appropriate proposals relating to combating social or rural isolation. The new strategy will be developed on a cross departmental basis. This approach is key to delivering the Government's vision of improved integration of services, and thereby further supporting older people into the future.