Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have had much to absorb and the conversation between questions and answers has been instructive for me. I sense that, as Mr. Dunne mentioned, there is a framework misfit which has arisen due to the ad hoc nature of the supports evolving from community-based needs. There is a lack of well organised management information, as Dr. McDaid pointed out, to report on where and how money is being spent and what are the outputs. That should be capable of correction. Instead of getting big overview management consultancy reports, those involved in the big firms know how to streamline source information so that it comes out and is streamed into management-relevant information.

The Government wants a lot of people in residential care to come back into the community as if the community is prepared, which it is not. As Mr. Dunne said, a little lady cannot carry a 20-stone man. If she does fall she will break a hip and one is then into huge medical expenses. Great care needs to be taken in addressing the pragmatic aspects of organisation.