Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1362. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which persons with stroke living in nursing homes must pay for rehabilitation services privately or receive no services; if he will ensure that this practice no longer continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28095/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual's eligibility status is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.

Persons with full eligibility are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service. Other services such as allied health professional services may be available to medical card holders. With the exception of prescribed drugs and medicines, which are subject to a €2.50 charge per prescribed item (maximum of €25 month per month per individual/family), for those under 70 years, and €2 per item (maximum of €20 per month) to those over 70 years, these services are provided free of charge.

Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €800 in any twelve consecutive months. There is also a charge of €100 for attendance at Accident & Emergency departments unless, inter alia, the person has a referral letter from their General Practitioner.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1363. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons under 65 years of age account for one in every four strokes, yet home care packages are not tailored to the specific needs of persons that could be living with the side effects of strokes for decades; his plans to create an entitlement to homecare which is appropriate for stroke survivors of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28096/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE’s Home Care Package scheme aims to help people with medium-to-high support needs to continue to live at home independently. Home Care Packages consist of community services and supports which may be provided to assist a person, depending on their individual assessed care needs, to return home from hospital or residential care or to remain at home where mainstream or normal levels of services are insufficient.

The services provided in a Home Care Package may include nursing and therapies (for example - physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy), respite care and aids or appliances which may be relevant to the needs of stroke survivors. The services delivered are based upon the assessed client needs and the level of other supports already provided such as Home Help services.

Intensive Home Care Packages is a limited service which allows people who require a very high level of assistance to be discharged home from acute hospitals or avoid admission. They include supports over and above those provided as part of a standard Home Care Package or current community services.

The Department is currently developing policy proposals for the future financing and regulation of home care, including the Home Help Service and Home Care Packages. An important step in this process is a public consultation process which will be launched shortly. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1364. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to fund a properly resourced stroke register, along with a rolling audit cycle incorporating acute, rehabilitation and community services every three years to ensure that service deficits are identified and addressed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the stroke register receives no dedicated funding and operates in only two thirds of hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28097/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Stroke Audit (2016) acknowledged that the care of people with stroke in Ireland has improved since the HSE established its National Clinical Programme for Stroke in 2010. Stroke deaths have reduced by more than 15%, less stroke patients are discharged to nursing homes and more directly to home. More stroke units have opened since the commencement of the programme and emergency thrombolysis rates are amongst the best in Europe. Funding for developments are considered annually by the HSE for submission to the Department as part of the service planning process. The HSE has advised my Department that no funding request was made for the Stroke register in 2017 and that a request for dedicated funding for the Stroke Register will be considered as part of the Estimates process for 2018.