31 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the home help budget is protected in 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1563/11]

Government policy is to support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as possible, and to support access to high quality long term residential care, where this is appropriate.

The recently approved Service Plan 2011 for the Health Service Executive commits the Executive to providing 11.98 million Home Help hours nationally this year. This is the same target as in 2010. The Deputy will appreciate that the Executive has operational responsibility to manage this particular service at national, regional and local levels, as part of delivering its overall community-based services to older people. My Department will liaise closely with the Executive over the course of the year in relation to monitoring services for older people.

In addition to the above, the commitment of the Government to protect services for older people is also highlighted by the additional funding of €14 million provided in Budget 2011, for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and for Home Care Packages.