Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 964: To ask the Minister for Health if he will defend the current entitlement under the 1970 Health Act to health services based on need against proposals contained in a report of his Department to restrict that right on the basis of available resources [23816/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The current basis, under the Health Act 1970, for eligibility for public health services is ordinary residence in Ireland.

The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system. The aim of this reform is to deliver a single-tier health service that will deliver equal access to care based on need, not income. This will be achieved by introducing a new universal health insurance system.

Resource constraints exist in all health care systems. It is an inherent feature of public health care systems that demand for services will always tend to exceed the supply of services. The challenge for the Government is to reform the current health system to deliver high quality and safe services within available resources.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 965: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce co-payment for home care packages, home help packages, diabetic clinics or warfarin clinics [23817/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Department of Health, in consultation with the HSE, is currently preparing proposals to ensure that access to community services for older people is provided on a nationally consistent and equitable basis having regard to each person's care needs and means. This reflects our commitment in the Programme for Government to review financing for community and long term care to support older people to remain at home for as long as possible. Various options are being considered at present and, therefore, it is not possible to provide any further details at the present time.

While the Department is progressing the issue as quickly as possible, the process has to take account of the complex legal issues involved.