Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if there is a concerted effort by him to privatise the provision of home help to persons wishing to stay in their own homes for as long as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42903/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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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 objective, as reflected in the HSE Service Plan 2012, is realised through various community based services such as Mainstream Home Help, enhanced Home Care Packages, Meals-on-Wheels and Day or Respite Care. These services not only meet the preferred wishes of many vulnerable older people, but also are intended to reduce pressures elsewhere on the wider care system. The demand for these services will continue to increase as the demographics, and complex needs, of older people change.

It has long been the case that the HSE has worked in partnership with the Not-for-Profit and Private sectors to augment its valuable services to older people at local level where, for whatever reason, the Executive is not in a position to do so itself. This may include, for example, where there are resource limitations locally or in order to ensure care in the evenings or weekends. The HSE has been developing various operational initiatives to improve nationally its approach to all relevant aspects of its Home Supports services. These include various new guidelines for Home Care, and a new Procurement Framework for approved agencies providing services on its behalf. While on-going developments have been designed to standardise and maximise the use of limited resources in the face of increasing demand, they are also intended to enhance quality, safety and other relevant aspects of service for both providers and care recipients alike. This has obviously been a challenging year for the health services overall, including maintaining services in line with evolving resource pressures.The overall provision of home support services is therefore regularly reviewed at national and local levels, in the context of client need and resource availability.

Notwithstanding the recently announced reduction in HSE Home Support provision for the remainder of 2012, investment in these services remains significant with expenditure of around €330 million expected for Home Help and Home Care Packages this year. All measures are being taken by Local Health Offices to ensure that as many people as possible receive a prioritised service, in line with assessed individual needs. The HSE partnership approach, working with both non-profit and private companies, has not changed, and there is no concerted effort to privatise this service.