Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that sufficient funding is available to provide the home help and home care systems that are necessary especially for single people who are being forced home early from hospitals due to the continuing trolley crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35335/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Government policy 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 by a range of community services such as Home Help, Home Care Packages, Meals-on-Wheels, and Day/Respite care. Since 2006, just over €200 million additional funding has been made available to develop community-based services. 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 the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to deliver the Home-Help service in line with its National Service Plan 2010. This commits the Executive to providing 11.98 million Home-Help hours nationally this year to over 54,000 people. The target for 2010 for Home-Help hours is unchanged from the 2009 figure. In addition to the mainstream Home-Help provision, the current Service Plan is designed to deliver Home Care Packages to around 9,600 people at any one time, or to some 13,000 clients over the course of the year.

It is a matter for the Executive, at national and local level, to manage Home Care resources in a balanced manner to best meet the needs of changing demands, individual cases, and Acute Hospital pressures. The position is that, this year, the HSE is spending in the region of €210m on mainstream Home-Help services, and approximately €130m on Home Care Packages. The importance the Government attaches to these services for older people is reflected in the fact that, despite the serious financial pressures pertaining in recent times, we provided an additional €10m in the last Budget to expand Home Care Packages to help relieve system pressure. It is generally accepted that Home Care costs are significantly lower than Acute Hospital or Long-Term Residential Care options.

The Department of Health and Children works closely with the HSE to monitor the provision of Home Care services over the course of each year. In particular, the Department and the Executive are this year progressing a number of initiatives to improve Home Care provision in the future. These relate, for example, to new Guidelines for the planning and delivery of Home Care Packages, and a new Procurement Framework for these services. In the circumstances, I am satisfied that every effort is being made to maximise provision in the area of community based services for older people, in line with overall service priorities and available resources.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ask the Health Service Executive to confirm if a comprehensive health care plan is in place for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35336/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.