Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some of my questions have already been asked. I am grateful for the explanation of the red circle, as I was somewhat puzzled by it. I thank Ms McGuinness and the rest of the deputation for coming in. I have two short questions, one of which relates to the 143 business cases. The report on the initial review panel was given to us some time back. Apparently one of the criteria suggested that if business cases are not signed off by the Minister then they will cease immediately. Does this include the 47 agencies in question? Have any of these 47 cases ceased? If so, will the deputation indicate how many were involved? We heard that 14 agencies had not submitted any documentation as of yet. Is there a closing date or time for them to submit documents? Is there any stipulation that they have to be in by a certain time?

I wish to follow up on something Deputy Doherty said about being in the public eye. In recent months, particularly when I knocked on doors during the local elections, I came to realise, if I had not realised it before, that people are very angry. There is something in their mind about all these agencies and the amount of money people are being paid, but also the perks that come with the jobs. However, many people who associate themselves with local agencies and work with people with disabilities and so on see these organisations as charities. They find it difficult when it comes out in the wash that certain amounts of money are being given to these agencies but used for purposes other than services for the people who need them.

People have quoted different figures. In the opinion of the witnesses, is there a duplication of services, and, if this is the case, how widespread is it? As a public representative I believe there is considerable duplication. In the area I represent, I often find that within a small area there are five or six providers trying to do the same thing, overlapping and on occasion dealing with the same people.

We are all being told to go back to basics. Whether at home or elsewhere, we see people examining their utility bills and going back to basics. We need to go back to basics within the HSE. We need to get an understanding of how many groupings exist, how many agencies exist and what they are actually doing. There is considerable duplication - I am a living witness to it and I have seen it myself - and therefore, we need to pull some of them back in, determine exactly what they are working on, who they are working with and why so many people or service users can be involved in so many agencies. There is a real problem in trying to distinguish between agencies working in communities and further afield and whom they are dealing with, because they seem to be dealing with the same people. I hope I have made that clear and I am keen to hear the answers.