Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Walsh for that. It is just that I am under time pressure.

I will direct a couple of questions to the Secretary General, Mr. Breslin. In terms of congregated settings, there is an outstanding issue which is between the section 38 and section 39 workers. Is there any opportunity or policy coming down the track which will redress the differences in pay, structures, etc.?

In the committee earlier this week, we heard from Sebastian Barnes of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Mr. Barnes highlighted that the council's analysis showed that the Sláintecare implementation cost would be €3 billion - he did not say what would be the ongoing costs of that. Has Mr. Breslin any thoughts as to what provision within that budget might go into the older residential nursing care sector because it would appear that even a small amount of what we spend at present in the private hospital deals would have done much to mitigate what happened in the nursing homes?