Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding home help hours and the provision currently being made for those in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55025/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The provision in relation to HSE community based supports for older people, including Home Care, was agreed under the HSE Service Plan 2012. The measures recently adopted by the Executive to address overall funding pressures intended that there would be a reduction of approximately €8 million expenditure on Home Help hours to the end of December (about 400,000 hours), and a reduction of some €1.2 million on Home Care Packages. However, in terms of implementation at local level, the HSE has made every effort to ensure that the impact of these reductions in care terms will be minimised for the most vulnerable individual recipients. Such decisions continue to be based on a review of individual need. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy in the light of the most up-to-date position.