Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent, if any, to which she and or her Department has examined the importance and value for money provided by the home help services throughout the country; the degree to which, if any, she has considered expanding the service in lieu of the more costly institutional care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35157/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The 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 implemented via a range of community services such as Home Help, Home Care Packages (HCPs), 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. It is generally accepted that Home Care costs are significantly lower than Acute Hospital or Long-Term Residential Care options.

The importance the Government attaches to Home Care is reflected in the fact that, between 2006 and 2010, in excess of €200 million additional funding was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to expand these community-based services nationwide. This includes an extra €10 million provided in the last Budget for Home Care Packages, notwithstanding the serious financial pressures facing the country. This year the HSE will spend in the region of €210m on mainstream Home Help services and €130m on enhanced HCP provision.

The Department has worked closely with the HSE in recent times in relation to maximising the use of resources in the Home Care area generally, and this continues to be the case. An independent Evaluation of Home Care Packages, commissioned by the Department of Health and Children and undertaken by PA Consulting Group last year, found that HCPs provide a valuable service to a highly dependant cohort of older people, but that further improvements could be effected. Consequently, the Executive has this year progressed a number of initiatives for roll out in 2011. These focus on standardising access to, and delivery of, Home Care services, in order to best meet the needs of older people, and maximise use of finite resources, in terms of both mainstream and enhanced services. One of the recommendations of the Evaluation was that a Value for Money study of Home Care Packages be carried out. This will be effected by the HSE after the new standardised national operational procedures are in place next year.