Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will. The statutory scheme, the consultation process to which we are hoping to launch in the coming days, will begin to address that question. If working in a sector that is defined under law and structured, many questions will arise such as who regulates it, who can provide home help, and the qualifications and background needed.

On the model 1, 2 and 3 hospital relationship, we are due in the programme for Government to review the minor injuries units. I share the view that they could be open an awful lot longer. On pathways needing to be widened, that is an interesting point on which I will come back to the Deputy.

On intermediate care vehicles, the Deputy is correct that we have increased the budget for the national ambulance service this year. Much of that increased funding was for intermediate care vehicles. More than 90% of transfers between hospital are being done by this service rather than the arrangement of ad hocsituations in the past.

The point about getting data, without naming people and geographic areas, on what GPs are sending people to emergency departments is a valid one. I will take it further. However, I note that I launched the national health care quality reporting system yesterday and there are a couple of interesting indications in it, county by county, such as how many people in County Tipperary are being referred for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, or for this, that and the other to various emergency departments. The Deputy is right that if we scrutinised it, it might give us some more indications.

I thank the Chairman for the questions.