Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will overhaul the current elder care budget and increase funding for home care packages to encourage persons to stay in their homes for as long as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51491/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The level of funding available for the health sector next year is being considered as part of the Estimates process for 2013, which is currently underway. Deliberations by the Government on expenditure allocations for next year will continue up until Budget time, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of this process. Notwithstanding the very difficult financial position facing the Exchequer, the Government remains committed to the policy of maximising the provision of Home Care supports across relevant care programmes.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the way the Health Service Executive home help and home care resources are allocated and to open up the commissioning system, in view of the fact that this would enable all providers to compete on an equal footing to ensure the best patient outcome and value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51498/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE recently finalised a public Procurement Framework for new Home Care Packages, which is being rolled out across all regions. The aim is to ensure greater care consistency, via selected providers meeting specified standards, across all Local Health Offices. The Framework, which fills in service gaps to complement HSE provision, will be reviewed around mid 2013.

The new procurement approach was designed to meet various criteria, including promoting opportunities for all non-statutory providers to undertake work on behalf of the HSE and to enhance client safety and service quality.

In addition, the HSE has been developing various operational initiatives in recent times, including guidelines on Home Care, to improve the planning and delivery of its Home Support services.