Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will protect the budgets for community care in order that elderly and disabled persons currently receiving a reasonable level of home help or home care will not be adversely affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13089/09]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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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. Where this is not an option, the health service supports access as appropriate to quality long term residential care. Additional funding of just over €200 million was provided to develop community services and supports for older people over the period 2006-8.

The Home Help Sevice, delivered by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is a community initiative enabling people who otherwise might need to be cared for in long-term residential care to remain at home. The current level of investment by the Executive indicates:

around €210 million revenue funding annually (including additional funding of €55 made available over 2006-8).

over 54,000 people benefitting on average each year.

approaching 12 million Home Helps hours to be delivered nationally in 2009.

Home Care Packages are a relatively new initiative developed over the past few years across the country. A package comprises a number of community-based services and supports, provided in a way to best meet the needs of an older person. The person will have significant medical, nursing and/or therapy requirements and may be recently discharged from hospital, or at-risk of admission to hospital, if such needs are not met in a planned way. Developments in Home Care Packages over 2006-8 include:

a total of €120m development funding to establish the initiative.

over 4,600 packages were provided by the HSE in 2008, with around 8,700 people benefitting at any one time, or over 11,000 people benefitting during the course of last year.

In addition to the wide range of other supports available to older people, such as Day/Respite services and Meals-on-Wheels, it is clear that the Government has made considerable improvements in recent years to enhance Home Care provision generally across the country. There is no doubt that demand can at times exceed resources. However, it is a matter for the HSE to deliver services both nationally and locally, in the context of Government priorities and its overall resources, while at the same time taking account of the need to maximise services to the most vulnerable in our society.