Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken or proposes to take to increase home-help hours in line with the requirements as set out by domestic and medical standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26170/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The fundamental policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. This is realised through a range of community services such as Home-Help, Home Care Packages, Meals-on-Wheels, and Day/Respite care. Without these supports, many older people would spend longer in acute hospitals, or would be admitted to residential care earlier than might be necessary.

The HSE has responsibility for the delivery of the Home-Help service, in line with the HSE National Service Plan 2010. This Plan, approved in February last, commits the Executive to provide 11.98 million Home-Help hours nationally this year to over 54,000 people. The target for 2010 for Home-Help hours is unchanged over the 2009 figure.

Arising from an independent Evaluation of Home Care Packages, published by the Department in December last, the HSE recently established a Task Group to progress this year various improvements in home care provision generally. These include:-

introduce standardised access and operational guidelines for the delivery of Home Care Packages;

adopt a voluntary code of Quality Guidelines for Home Care Support Services for Older People ; and

progress a new Procurement Framework for home care services.

The various Guidelines now being prepared are intended to allow the HSE adopt a more standardised approach nationally to the provision of home care services, including Home Help, and to improve these services from the point of view of provider and recipient alike. The Deputy's reference to linking increased Home Help hours to certain domestic or medical standards is unclear. If he wishes to clarify the proposed increase with the standards in question, I would be happy to consider the matter further.