Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1242. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year costs of providing 60,000 additional home support hours. [30408/25]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1243. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year costs of providing 125,000 additional personal assistance hours. [30409/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1242 and 1243 together.

The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistance (PA) and Home Support (HS) Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.

PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or indirectly though a range of voluntary and private service providers.

The average rate for PA and disability home support service delivery is currently €25 per hour. The estimated full-year cost of providing 125,000 additional PA hours at the current rate is €3,125,000. The estimated full-year cost of providing 60,000 additional disability home support hours at the current rate is €1,500,000.

Budget 2025 provided approximately €9m in funding to commence the progressive alignment of the PA and home support hourly rates with Older Persons Services, which is currently €31.47 per hour. When the rates are aligned, the estimated full-year cost of providing 125,000 PA hours would be €3,933,750. The estimated full-year cost of providing 60,000 additional home support hours would be €1,888,200.