Written answers

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Department of Health

Home Help Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Patrick NultyPatrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there are no cuts to home help services, in view of the severe difficulties this will cause service users and their families; if he agrees that cuts to home help do not save money to the exchequer given the higher costs due to increased hospitalisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Home Help service is central to the wide range of community based services, provided by the Health Service Executive. These services support vulnerable older people to remain living at home and in their communities for as long as possible, in line with Government policy. While the HSE Service Plan for 2012 involves a reduction of around 3.5% in Home Help hours nationally, from just over 11m hours in 2011 to a projected 10.7m hours this year, the corresponding reduction in the actual number of people receiving this service has been limited to just under 2% or, in other words, from some 51,000 recipients last year to 50,000 in 2012. This reflects an increased focus by the HSE on more personalised care for the most vulnerable older people.

In the context of Home Support provision overall, it should be noted that the number of Home Care Packages, which also contain a significant Home Help element, is being maintained this year at 2011 levels. This means that packages will be provided to approximately 10,900 people at any one time, or some 15,000 people over the course of this year, and underpins the commitment of the Government to provide the best possible service to the most vulnerable older people, in the light of evolving services pressures and resource limitations. This will, of course, require regular monitoring of the service over the remainder of the year, in line with overall HSE budget parameters.

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