Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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602. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding home help and section 39 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41078/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Providers of Home Care services are monitored through Service Level Agreements with the HSE. They are required to provide a prescribed range of information in relation to the services they provide, and are supervised through regular local operational meetings and reviews of clients' care plans.

The demand for home care services has increased in recent years. There is an obvious need to provide high quality and flexible services that not only best meets the needs of individual clients, but also reduces pressures elsewhere on the wider health system such as acute hospitals or on long term residential care. The HSE is progressing a range of measures to improve its home care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote access, quality, and safety.

As the Deputy's question relates to the employment of home helps employed in Section 39 agencies, I have asked the HSE to respond directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.