48 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the number of home helps per health board area in December 1996 on a part-time or full-time basis; and the results of his Department's discussions with chief executive officers of the health boards, particulary in relation to increasing rates of pay and pension entitlements. [7233/97]

Limerick East): The number of home helps per health board area, both part-time and full-time, at 31 December, 1996 is as follows.

49 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the hourly rates of pay paid to home helps by health boards; and the variations, if any, in such rates. [7234/97]

Limerick East): The salary scale for full-time home helps with effect from 1 January, 1997 is in the range of £207.98-£220.19 per week. This is the same rate as applies in the health services group 1 non-officer grades. This scale applies throughout the country and is increased from time to time in accordance with increases granted to non-nursing personnel.

The latest available details of the rate of gratuities applying to part-time home helps in each board are given in the following table 1. With regard to persons engaged in the home help service on a part-time basis, the position is that the rate of remuneration varies considerably throughout the country. In particular in the Eastern Health Board area, the service is provided wholly by voluntary groups which accounts for the wide variation within the area. In all boards the rates are determined by the particular requirements and the type of task undertaken in individual cases. It is a matter for each health board to decide on the level of home help services required and the level of payment to be made in respect of these services.

Table 1: Details of the numbers of full-time and part-time home helps in each health board and the rate of gratuity for part-timers at February 1997.