Mr. Pat Healy:

Certainly, more than half of the people are being cared for through services provided directly by the HSE. For example, 80% of the residential care system is provided by the private sector and 20% is provided publicly. In this sector we currently provide half of the service. It is significant for us and Members of the Oireachtas, in considering what will take place in the period until 2031, that the population is ageing and the demographic is increasing. We will have to work collectively. The HSE set up the forum with the voluntary and private sectors to work collectively to develop the service in the way that will be necessary. This is an important part of the response.