Mr. Michael Harty:

The significant increase in demand for home care services that we are seeing is in line with the CSO's demographic figures. Of the two priorities we want to see included in the budget, one is an end to the ring-fencing of funds for one form of care over another, as this has created an artificial demand for residential care. Let us assess people and allow them to decide whether the money should be spent on home care or residential care. We would also like to see an end to section 39 funding in the home care sector. It has been shown to be a poor-----